*** UPDATE *** From Simon’s campaign manager…

I just wanted to clarify that Sheila won’t be flying around the state tomorrow. She’ll be driving, in her own car, at her own expense.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* It’ll be interesting to see if she attracts much of a crowd at these stops…

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will announce her plans for the 2014 campaign season Wednesday during a day-long fly-around starting in Chicago and ending in her hometown of Carbondale.

The Democrat hasn’t confirmed she’s looking at a bid for comptroller, but a campaign aide earlier said she has expressed interest in the office currently held by Republican Judy Baar Topinka. […]

Topinka has a wide fundraising edge, with $805,000 in her campaign account as of July 1. Simon had $272,000.

* Her campaign website at this moment is just a splash page.

* From a campaign e-mail…

I will be announcing some very exciting news about the next step in my campaign on Wednesday, July 31. We will be visiting Chicago, Springfield, and ending the day in my hometown of Carbondale. If you would like to come out and show your support at one of these events it would be great to see you! Here are the details:

Chicago – 10:00AM
Hotel Allegro
Cinema Room 1, 3rd Floor
171 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL

Springfield – 3:00PM
Cafe Moxo
411 E. Adams St.
Springfield, IL

Carbondale – 8:00PM
Carbondale Civic Center
200 S. Illinois Ave.
Carbondale, IL

* From a May 6th Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll…

Topinka leads Democratic Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon 45-38.