WASHINGTON--A poll May 7 on the 2010 Illinois Senate race, taken by a Republican interest, shows Rep. Jan Schakowsky ahead and Merchandise Mart mogul Chris Kennedy, the son of Sen. Robert Kennedy, and the nephew of President Kennedy, surprisingly lacking in name ID.

On the Democratic side, Kennedy is mulling a Senate run; Schakowsky will decide by June 8 if she is in; Illinois treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is in and raised already $1.1 million and Sen. Roland Burris has not said--but his first quarter fund-raiser totaled only $845.

FROM THE GOP POLL....

Q. If the Democratic Primary election for United States Senate were held today and the candidate were Jan Schakowsky, Chris Kennedy, Roland Burris and Alexi Giannoulias, for whom would you vote?

- 20.0 Jan Schakowsky

- 16.4 Alexi Giannoulias

- 15.9 Roland Burris

- 12.7 Chris Kennedy

- 35.0 Undecided

Q. If the general election for United States Senate were held today, which one of the following best describes how you are likely to vote between Mark Kirk, the Republican candidate and Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic candidate?

- 34.2 Mark Kirk

- 33.2 Alexi Giannoulias

- 32.6 Undecided

Q. If the general election for United States Senate were held today, which one of the following best describes how you are likely to vote between Mark Kirk, the Republican candidate and Chris Kennedy, the Democratic candidate?

- 33.2 Mark Kirk

- 32.6 Chris Kennedy

- 34.2 Undecided

Q. If you knew that each of the following statements about Chris Kennedy were true, would each make you more likely or less likely to vote for Chris Kennedy for United States Senate? If each would make no difference, just say so.
"Chris Kennedy is the son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy"

- 24.6 More Likely

- 20.2 Less Likely

- 50.2 No Difference

Q. Now, I am going to read you a list of names. Will you please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each person? If you have no opinion or have never heard of the person, just say so. "Chris Kennedy"

- 15.8 Favorable

- 4.8 Unfavorable

- 26.0 No Opinion
- 53.4 Never Heard Of

May 7 poll of Illinois 500 likely voters (+/-4.4%)