The bottom line on the Illinois Senate Alexi Giannoulias, Mark Kirk debate: Sun-Times Abdon M. Pallasch take is here. Both contenders dodged tough questions in the ABC News/League of Women Voters of Illinois debate. Lynn Sweet's conclusion: no knockout punch, Kirk and Giannoulias made no mistakes, no obvious gamechanger.

Giannoulias mentioned Karl Rove's name at least nine times. Why?

excerpt from Sweet...

The Giannoulias campaign believes that voters, at least the Democratic-leaning persuadeables in Illinois, find Rove unpopular, and the use of his name is an effective shorthand for everything voters may not like about Washington.

excerpt from Pallasch.....

Rep. Mark Kirk would not say whether he made up his story about being shot at while serving overseas in the military. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias could not name a single government program he would cut.