* The spots aren’t posted online as I write this, but the DCCC is spending big bucks during the coming week on TV ads in two Illinois campaigns. From the Hotline…

IL-10 Open (Kirk) $590,722
IL-14 Bill Foster (D) $526,917
IL-17 Phil Hare (D) $92,158

Phil Hare’s district is cheaper to advertise in, and I’m not sure what the DCCC has already booked, so I’m withholding judgment at the moment about what that particular figure means. Noticeably absent is Debbie Halvorson, who the polls show is trailing badly, and Melissa Bean, whose Republican opponent has no money.

* The DSSC has a new TV ad connecting Mark Kirk to George W. Bush. Rate it…

* JUSTPAC has a new TV ad whacking Supreme Court Chief Justice Kilbride. Rate it…

* The Tribune editorialized on the JUSTPAC ads today…

You’ve probably heard one of those snarling radio or television ads aimed at bouncing Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride from the bench.

Three actors portray criminals, describing their vicious crimes’ vivid detail. “On appeal, Justice Thomas Kilbride sided with us over law enforcement or our victims,” one says. “Unfortunately for felons like us, other justices overruled Kilbride and our convictions stood.”

No, Kilbride didn’t hand out Get Out Of Jail Free passes to rabid criminals. He brands that ad and others as “gross distortions” of his record in criminal cases.

But crime isn’t the prime issue in this race. Politics is. The Illinois Supreme Court has four Democrats and three Republicans. A switch of one seat would shift the balance of power.

* John McCain had his plumber, Pat Quinn has his welder and now Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky has an electrician…

* Schakowsky’s opponent Joel Pollak claims that this is no ordinary electrician. From a press release…

The facts about Sindelar reveal that Schakowsky’s not fighting for workers–she’s fighting for her political cronies, including Sindelar.

Sindelar is a Democrat insider with close ties to the party machine:

Sindelar is the Treasurer of “Citizens for Elaine Nekritz,” the official campaign committee for State Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-57) (http://tinyurl.com/2bsf9v5)

Sindelar filed a successful ballot challenge against Nekritz’s Republican opponent in 2006, Wayne Berzon, who was struck off the ballot (http://tinyurl.com/2dxejlx)

Sindelar ran for Assessor in Maine Township in 2005 as a Democrat against Republican Tom Rueckert, and lost (http://tinyurl.com/25nakav)

Sindelar was paid $1000 in January 2010 by Blagojevich appointee Bill Brandt, Chair of the Illinois Finance Authority, as Brandt began his campaign for 10th District Democratic State Central Committeeman (http://tinyurl.com/276trl9)

Sindelar and his wife have donated thousands of dollars to individual Democrats and party organizations over the past several years (search http://tinyurl.com/22mdeoo)

Sindelar has been paid for consulting work by the Maine Township Regular Democratic Organization (search http://tinyurl.com/2dcdrfj)

* First of all, Rep. Nekritz is not a “Machine” Democrat. She was the only Democrat who voted against Speaker Madigan’s rules two years ago, for crying out loud. I did my own searches and found $2600 in campaign contributions made by Sindelar and his wife since September of 2001. I guess that allows Pollack to claim “thousands” in contributions, but that’s an average of just $289 a year. Sindelar was paid $400 by Maine Township five years ago. Yeah, he’s some player.

Just for the heck of it, I checked campaign contributions made by my handyman. Tony and his wonderful wife have contributed $2,247 to Republicans since 2000 - not much different than Schakowsky’s alleged “Machine Democrat” electrician. Tony is also listed as the handyman for the local county party. Do those contributions and expenditures make my handyman a Republican hack? Heck no. He’s a fine, upstanding American who likes to be involved in the American Way. Does his activism make Tony less of a handyman? Absolutely not. He’s the best handyman ever, in my opinion. I absolutely love the guy and recommend him all the time to Democrats, Republicans and to folks who I have no idea what party they belong to.

There’s nothing at all wrong with people being an electrician or a handyman and at the same time being politically active. This would be America, after all.

* Let’s look at some Internet promo videos. First up, Otis McDonald, of the landmark McDonald v Chicago gun control case has endorsed Bill Brady for governor. The video is long and slow-paced and doesn’t get to the point until 3:50 into it…

Good man. Bad video.

* I think this is an Internet video, but am not sure. “Seals” for Dold…

…Adding… Politico says that the seal is actually a sea lion. Oops

* Meet the Hultgren Voters…

Hint to the Hultgren campaign: Turn down the background music. It’s overwhelming.

* More videos…

* IARF Interview: Senator Bill Brady

* IARF Interview: Gov. Pat Quinn

* Serafin on FOX: Governor’s Race Enters Final Week

* Senator John Thune: Mark Kirk is One of the People Everybody Looks To