The day after filing concluded for the special election, we've got the first sign of things getting ugly in the Fifth Congressional District.

Last night on Fox Chicago's nightly newscast, Dane Placko reported on a poll apparently conducted by Sara Feigenholtz's campaign that included negative message-testing against opponents Mike Quigley and John Fritchey.  According to Placko, the poll alleged that Fritchey is "paying for his campaign office with taxpayer money" and "took donations from a political action committee with ties to organized crime."  Fritchey responded that the charges are false and said, "We're really seeing the two faces of Sara here." 

The poll also asserted that Quigley "does not have the judgment to be a congressman because he supported Todd Stroger" and described him as a "turncoat on the cause of reform."  Quigley answered, "Sara has clearly charted the course for business as usual." Meanwhile, a press release from his campaign today included this statement:

“The people of the 5th Congressional district deserve better than this kind of negative, slash-and-burn politics and personal attacks,” Quigley said.  

“They deserve a discussion about the issues that matter to them— how to fix our broken economy, how to fight for lower taxes, and the need to thoroughly reform government once and for all. Those are the kinds of goals I have fought for on the Cook County board, and those are the issues that I plan to discuss during this campaign."

Meanwhile, the Feigenholtz campaign won't admit its their survey, instead releasing a statement claiming that "[w]ith at least 15 people in the race, anyone could be polling."  Of course, Placko added that a Feigenholtz spokesman also wouldn't deny that it was their poll.  Watch the entire report here.