Giannoulias gives up Giannis's cash

Illinois Treasurer and Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias released a statement Friday announcing he's donating to charity "all campaign contribution" he received from accused bank fraudster Nick Giannis and his family. The money is going to 10 state and local non-profits, according to Giannoulias's campaign.

Here's Giannoulias's statement: "As my campaign said yesterday, I am shocked and appalled by the news reports of the Giannis family's alleged horrible scheme to defraud banks in Chicago including my family's bank. Upon learning all of this, I instructed my campaign immediately to donate all campaign contributions from these individuals to non-profit organizations.

"While we're on the subject of returning donations, Mark Kirk has yet to answer if he is going to give back the nearly $3 million in contributions from the corporate special interests and Wall Street CEOs that fund his campaign in return for his repeated votes to protect their exorbitant bonuses. Like a typical Washington insider, he lapped up their dollars and then voted their way, whether it's opposing the TARP Reform and Accountability Act or trying to block the creation of a much-needed Consumer Finance Protection Agency. As much as he tries, Mark Kirk can not escape his anti-consumer, pro-corporate special interest record."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34352.html

Is it too late for him to drop out?

Per Rasmussen:
Alexi Giannoulias (D) 44(+4)
Mark Kirk (R)(-5)

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/illinois/election_2010_illinois_senate

Per Research 2000:
Alexi Giannoulias (D) 43 (38)
Mark Kirk (R) 36 (30)

This was Feb 24th.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/2/25/13446/5518

Giannis is the owner of "Boston Blackies." We've had burgers and salads at the one on Grand just off Michigan. It always felt a bit mafia, but they had really cheap cocktails.