Yesterday, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' U.S. Senate exploratory committee released the following statement, in which he voices his support for the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor and challenges his fellow candidates to make their position known:

"Voting on the confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice is one of the most important responsibilities of a United States Senator. The people of Illinois deserve to know how all potential U.S. Senate candidates would approach this crucial task.

“I commend President Obama on his outstanding choice and congratulate Judge Sotomayor for her thoughtful testimony this week.

"Sadly, the Right-Wing attack machine has used this most solemn constitutional responsibility to smear Judge Sotomayor. This hate-filled rhetoric is not only inappropriate and outrageous, but completely false and should have no place in the debate surrounding her selection.

“I urge all individuals, Democrat and Republican, who have expressed an interest in running for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President Obama to let Illinois voters know how they would carry out their responsibility on a confirmation vote for Judge Sotomayor."

This appears to be aimed at Republican Mark Kirk, who is scheduled to announce his candidacy Monday morning. Saying he opposes the nomination will please the GOP diehards and reassure party leaders in D.C.  On the other hand, taking that position will further hurt him in the Latino community, whose political influence is growing rapidly in the state.

We'll see if he gets a question on the topic at Monday's presser.