Progress Illinois

Early Voting Begins Today
Beginning today, Illinois residents can take advantage of early voting, the first opportunity to do so in a presidential election. Early voting will be available through October 30 at 51 sites in the City of Chicago, 44 sites in suburban Cook County, and various locations throughout the collar counties, A government-issued photo ID is required to participate.  To find the nearest early voting center anywhere in the state, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Republicans Worried With Three Weeks Remaining
Republicans are growing restless with John McCain's struggling campaign, demonstrating early signs that the party might cut the presidential nominee lose and reroute their scarce resources to down-ticket races. Some say the campaign should have raised Obama’s associations with 60s-era radical Bill Ayers earlier. Others said McCain can still prevail if he "presents himself as the optimistic visionary the public wants at deeply worrisome economic times."

Joined By Clintons, Biden Calls McCain Erratic
Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden hit the trail with the Clintons this weekend, telling a Scranton, PA crowd that John McCain was employing “ugly inferences” because he was out of ideas. In her remarks, Hillary Clinton offered an updated version of an applause line from her own primary campaign, saying: “It took a Democratic president to clean up after the last President Bush. It’s going to take a Democratic president to clean up after this President Bush.” Hillary and Bill Clinton have already made 50 appearances on behalf of Obama.

Global Stocks Rebound After Weekend Negotiations
Following emergency talks in which European leaders announced plans to inject new capital into troubled financial institutions, global stock markets jumped in value Monday morning, including bounces in Hong Kong, Australia, and South Korea. American investors are waiting to see if the Treasury Department's newly announced plan to buy equity in troubled banks would stabilize the volatility on Wall Street.

State Senate President Campaigns Heat Up
The battle for the state senate presidency is already ramping up. According to The Southern, "State Sens. John Cullerton of Chicago and James Clayborne of Belleville are throwing money into Democratic races across the state in hopes of sealing up support when senators vote in January on a successor to [Emil] Jones." House Speaker Michael Madigan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley are rumored to support Cullerton while Clayborne is hoping to consolidate support among the black caucus.

Chicago City Deficit Grows
Thanks to sluggish consumer spending and plummeting tax revenues, Chicago's budget shortfall grew $49 million since mid-August, bringing the estimated total to $469 million. Along with laying off 1,080 city employees and erasing thousands of vacancies, Daley aides told alderman in closed-door meetings Friday that the mayor will attempt to generate $65 million worth of new revenue by raising amusement and parking taxes. He's also in negotiations to privatize Chicago's 35,000 parking meters by year's end, which would net the city at least $150 million. According to the Tribune, Daley's massive public relations arm won't take a hit, however.