* Way back in April, Republican US Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg laid out his battle plan against incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin…

“You win by showing the people of Illinois who Dick Durbin really is,” [Sauerberg] said. “He is a divisive, partisan politician who has spent 37 years on the government dole.”

* In that same interview, Sauerberg also revealed why he initially decided to run against Durbin…

Sauerberg said he first considered running after Durbin compared the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners to atrocities committed in Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia and Cambodia.

“When he compared our troops to Nazis, that pretty much put me over the top,” he said.

Durbin profusely apologized for the remark, but Sauerberg was having nothing of it. His press releases throughout the summer have been some of the most vitriolic I’ve ever seen.

* Sauerberg was therefore furious with Durbin’s first TV ad of the season, which highlights the incumbent’s work on behalf of disabled military veterans…

* Here’s Sauerberg’s press release…

Today, Republican Senate nominee Steve Sauerberg, M.D., sharply criticized Senator Dick Durbin for a new television ad running as part of the Senator’s campaign for re-election. “Dick Durbin, who has been unwilling to stand up for our brave men and women in uniform in his role as a United States Senator, has stooped to shamelessly exploiting our troops for his own political gain,” said Sauerberg. “This is cynical election-year politics at its worst.”

“Time and time again Dick Durbin has failed to stand up for our troops. It’s incredible that Dick Durbin, the same man who compared our troops to Nazis on the floor of the U.S. Senate, pronounced the surge a failure before it began, and would not denounce the slandering of General Petraeus, would now attempt to use our troops as election-year gimmicks,” continued Sauerberg. “One slickly crafted campaign commercial cannot make up for a life-time of failing our men and women in uniform.”

* Yesterday, Durbin had a chance to confront Sauerberg about his attacks during a Chicago Tribune editorial meeting. After months and months of going on the offensive, Sauerberg backed off…

Republican U.S. Senate challenger Steve Sauerberg backtracked Tuesday from questioning Sen. Dick Durbin’s patriotism after the Democrat emotionally accused his rival of employing “the lowest form of politics.” […]

“I apologize if you’re upset with me and I understand, but the fact of the matter is, you shouldn’t say these things,” Sauerberg said. “People are hurt. They’re still hurt.” The Republican said every veteran he has spoken with holds Durbin “in great disdain.”

“You need to meet more veterans,” Durbin said, pointing out he recently received the endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

That’s a sharp, spot-on retort by Durbin. The VFW isn’t in the habit of endorsing troop-hating, terrorist-loving commies.

* And then Sauerberg completely capitulated…

Sauerberg acknowledged that Durbin has “done a great job on some of these issues” dealing with veterans. And Sauerberg said a news release issued Monday by his campaign, criticizing Durbin for “shamelessly exploiting our troops for his own political gain” in a campaign TV ad was “a little bit too strong. I think I might take that one back a little bit.”

“I do applaud your efforts on behalf of the troops,” Sauerberg said. And after their editorial board session ended, Sauerberg shook Durbin’s hand and said, “I apologize for any offense.”

Candidates who don’t have the guts to back up their assaults when their opponents are in the same room deserve whatever ridicule results. In Sauerberg’s case, however, he manned up and apologized. We’ll see if his campaign follows suit.

* Congressional stuff…

* Oberweis on Iraq: “We’re winning”

* Foster really does vote bipartisan

* Costello explains ‘no’ vote on bailout

* Gay candidates anticipate breakthroughs

* Callahan accuses Schock of resume-building

* Romney to raise money at $1,000-per-plate DuPage dinner