Ill. Senate Candidate's Bank Fails

National Democrats have been wary of Alex Giannoulias' campaign for the Senate seat once held by President Obama—and now it seems they had good reason. The Illinois state treasurer's family bank has gone under, giving his opponent, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, an extremely powerful line of attack. Giannoulias touted his experience as an executive at the then-successful community bank, which his father founded, as proof of his qualifications for state treasurer. Giannoulias choked back tears talking to reporters about the loss of his family's bank, which he said gave him "renewed vigor and a new perspective on just how horrible it is out there for so many people."