Associated Press - November 24, 2009 2:04 PM ET
CHICAGO (AP) - U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias (jeh-NOO'-lee-ehs) says it's tough for his party in Illinois after the scandal that engulfed ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Giannoulias said Tuesday there's a "dark cloud" over everyone's head.
Currently Illinois' treasurer, Giannoulias is 1 of the Democrats running for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat.
Next year is the first election for Democrats since Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges and removed from office.
Republicans are pushing hard to claim both Obama's old Senate seat and the Illinois governor's mansion.
Giannoulias says voters only want to know who has the best ideas to move the country forward.
Giannoulias makes an effort to politically distance himself from Blagojevich, saying the two were never close.
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