* Republican congressional candidate Steve Greenberg has a new campaign manager…

Collin Corbett, who previously had served as a Greenberg field coordinator, now is running the candidate’s bid to topple two-term incumbent Rep. Melissa Bean in the 8th House District.

No offense to Corbett, but check this out…

A 22-year-old Wauconda resident, Corbett volunteered with other local GOP congressional campaigns before joining Greenberg’s team in October.

If that isn’t a good indication of how badly Greenberg’s campaign is going, and how little interest there is in DC, here’s more…

Greenberg’s campaign has been relatively low on cash. According to the most recent campaign disclosure reports available, the campaign had about $5,000 in the bank as of March 31, far less than Bean’s roughly $1.4 million total as of the same date.

Relatively low on cash? Relative to what?

* Meanwhile, in another campaign…

The Second City has become first in the nation for high gas prices, with consumers struggling as oil company profits soar, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Monday.

“We’ve got to stop the price-gouging,'’ Durbin said.

And Durbin’s solution?

[Durbin] took credit for a new Federal Trade Commission probe into record fuel prices as he spoke before a BP station at Roosevelt and Wabash with regular gas selling for $4.25.

Ooooo. An FTC probe. Be still my heart.

* The Daily Herald lists a few reasons why gas prices are so high…

Analysts agree that global demand, particularly in China and India, is driving prices nationally, as are refinery capacity limits and speculation on the crude oil futures market.

The speculation is really driving the price in a big way. We can’t do much about China and India, but something could be done about speculators and capacity limits. Also, the just in time delivery system could be altered by requiring producers to have more fuel on hand. There are other good ideas out there as well, but all we’re gonna get from Durbin is an FTC probe. Hilarious.

* Of course, there is also the tax issue…

Illinois is one of only nine states to apply its basic sales tax to gasoline purchases. Most — including neighboring Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and Kentucky — do not.

Beyond that, Illinois, alone among Midwestern states, allows local units of government to add taxes to gasoline sales. Cook County, for instance, tacks on 6 cents per gallon, Chicago 5 cents. It all adds up.

No mention of that by our US Senator.

* Speaking of gas prices, the governor showed he was a bit out of touch…

BLAGOJEVICH: Price of gas is going to be about four-dollars a gallon…(crowd murmurs, ‘It is’)… See when you’re the governor you don’t fill your gas up.

*** UPDATE *** GOP Congressional candidate Martin Ozinga just announced his staff lineup…

Glen Bolger (Pollster), Partner, Public Opinion Strategies: Glen Bolger is one of the Republican Party’s leading political strategists and pollsters. Public Opinion Strategies has 20 U.S. Senators, eight governors, and more than 50 Members of Congress as clients. Roll Call newspaper, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill, noted Glen “has quickly emerged as the pollster of choice for House and Senate Republicans.”

Jonathan Poe (Media Consultant), Partner, Anthem Media: National political analyst Charlie Cook has called Jonathan Poe “one of the most talented operatives ever to work at a House or Senate committee.” Poe spent the past three election cycles in leadership roles at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), serving as Deputy Political Director during the 2006 cycle, National Field Director during the 2004 cycle and Field Representative during the 2002 cycle.

Aaron Leibowitz (Direct Mail Consultant), Partner, Targeted Creative Communications: Aaron’s professional experience in politics includes serving as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Virginia, an Account Executive for Karl Rove + Company, Senior Associate at Carlyle Gregory and Associates, and managing or working on congressional campaigns in the Midwest and South. Aaron was selected as a “Rising Star” by Campaigns & Elections Magazine in 2004 for his important role in so many targeted, critical races.

Joe Rachinsky (PAC Fundraiser), Partner, The Catalyst Group: Joe Rachinsky operated Rachinsky Consulting for two years, consulting on several top congressional races, and with the NRCC on their convention activities. Earlier he served as the Finance Director of the NRCC under Chairmen Tom Reynolds and Tom Davis. Rachinsky has also served as the PAC director of a major pro-business PAC, director of the NRCC’s PAC donor programs, and has worked in the field on several congressional campaigns.

Laura Anderson (Illinois Fundraiser), CEO, Winning Systems, Inc.: Laura spent the first 16 years of her career working with the Illinois Legislature in various policy and management positions. She later became Chief of Staff for Lee Daniels, former Speaker and Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives. In these years she was involved in the state budgeting process and legislative affairs, including issues relating to human services. Laura most recently served as the Illinois finance consultant to Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign.

Andy Seré (Campaign Manager): Ozinga’s bid marks the fifth campaign Seré has managed, including three targeted state legislative races in Texas and Virginia. Seré also managed the GOP primary campaign of Tim Baldermann, which culminated in a convincing 62% victory among a 3-way field. He is a graduate of the Republican National Committee’s Campaign Management College.