* The Republicans did their best yesterday to look like a governing party and not a collection of angry outsiders. State Sen. Bill Brady even walked away from reporters when he was asked whether he thought Pat Quinn was corrupt…

But, not everybody read the memo…

Unsuccessful candidate for governor Dan Proft took a shot at Kirk’s Democratic opponent for the U.S. Senate, Alexi Giannoulias, saying, “Getting a lecture from Ali Giannoulias on honesty in government is like getting a lecture from Drew Peterson on domestic violence.”

NBC5 video…

Oof. That was a bit more than just tossing red meat at the base. But, Proft is Proft. Last year, the Republicans barely allowed anybody to speak. This year, they probably let too many take the podium.

*** UPDATE 1 *** The Giannoulias campaign wants you to see this statement from Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky…

“Did Mark Kirk think Dan Proft was being clever and funny? If not, he should immediately repudiate Dan Proft’s offensive and misogynistic rhetoric that makes a joke of violence against women. Every one of the Illinois Republicans that shared the stage with Proft should do the same.”

*** UPDATE 2 *** Proft responds…

“Of course Jan Schakowsky rallied to the defense of Alexi Giannoulias. One Chicago Democrat crime family trying to protect another. What else is new? Rep. Schakowsky bailed out a bank (Shore Bank) that aided and abetted her convicted felon husband’s illegal check kiting schemes and Mr. Giannoulias’ bank (Broadway) was seized by federal regulators because he couldn’t figure out how to make loaning money to mobsters a self-sustaining business. Those two deserve each other and Illinois doesn’t deserve either one of them.”

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* Tea party favorite Cedra Crenshaw also strayed a bit…

Cedra Crenshaw, who fought a Democratic attempt to kick her off the ballot in November, is now blasting “the Chicago machine,” which initiated the petition challenge. Crenshaw is running in a traditionally Democratic district, but has become a cause celebre among Republicans nationally.

“What rational business would want to expand or locate in a state with $130 billion of debt?”

As I noted to subscribers this morning, Crenshaw was making her comments at about the same time that Boeing announced an expansion into the Metro East. The Republicans probably ought to avoid looking like they’re running down their state while they criticize the party in power.

* But for the first time in years hope was in the air at the Illinois State Fair...

“We’re going to have a great new governor in Bill Brady, but he is not going to have success if Mike Madigan remains the Speaker,” said Rep. Tom Cross, the House Minority Leader. “We need 12 seats to retake the House.”

Cross said he had 20 seats in play and with the crowd’s help he could retake the house.

“People are as angry as I’ve ever seen them,” Cross said. Kirk agreed.

Voters are quite angry, but I’d like to see what “in play” means before agreeing with Cross that’s he’s that far in the hunt.

* Mark Kirk predicted an absolute disaster if he’s not elected to the US Senate…

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk stressed the importance of winning not only a six-year term this fall but also the special election on the same Nov. 2 ballot for the remaining two months of the Senate seat held by Blagojevich-appointed Democratic Sen. Roland Burris.

Kirk, a five-term North Shore congressman said the special election “could mean all the difference for the economic future of the United States.” Kirk contended Democrats in a post-election, lame-duck congressional session will try to approve a massive spending bill that would “shock” the stock market and the economy.

No embellishment there. [/snark]

* Republican Day speeches…

Bill Brady…

Mark Kirk…

Tom Cross…

Dan Rutherford…

Judy Baar Topinka on merging the comptroller’s and treasurer’s office…