* Real Clear Politics has moved the US Senate race here from “Leans Democratic” to “Tossup.” Tammy Duckworth has a 3.5-point lead in the RCP poll average.

* Meanwhile, from the Kirk campaign…

A Union County Judge has set a new court date for the Duckworth whistleblower retaliation lawsuit on October 6, 2016. After the plaintiffs rejected a June 24 settlement offer, no agreement has since been finalized and whether or not a trial will be scheduled before Election Day is uncertain.

“In June, Rep. Duckworth told the public that she wanted to get the truth out about the retaliation charges brought against her for silencing whistleblowers, yet she has continued to hide behind her government attorneys and campaign spokesperson in public while attacking the whistleblowers in private,” said Kirk For Senate campaign manager Kevin Artl. “Voters deserve to hear from Rep. Duckworth about how a convicted a felon ended up caring for veterans under her watch. Voters should hear why the whistleblowers who brought their concerns about veteran care to Duckworth’s attention were fired and threatened. Voters deserve answers from Duckworth.”

* The Trib explains…

The Downstate retaliation lawsuit against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth is back in court after the judge overseeing the case on Wednesday called for the two sides to discuss the matter with him in early October.

Last month, the Illinois attorney general’s office filed a motion to enforce a settlement it said had been agreed upon between Duckworth and two workers at the Anna Veterans’ home stemming from the congresswoman’s time years ago as head of the state’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

But the two employees have not submitted those settlement documents to the judge, court records show. So Union County Judge Mark Boie set a case management conference via telephone between him and the two sides to discuss the status of the case, according to the Union County clerk’s office. The huddle is set for the morning of Oct. 5.

* Related…

* Press release: What People Are Saying About Mark Kirk’s Latest Military Lie