Rasmussen on Ill. Senate race: Kirk 46, Giannoulias 38

In the first poll since the failure of the Giannoulias family's Broadway Bank, Rasmussen reveals that in a telephone poll of likely Illinois voters, 46 percent support Republican Mark Kirk, 38 percent back Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

They are running for the Senate seat once held by President Obama. Democrat Roland Burris, a Rod Blagojevich appointee, chose not to run for a full term.

Prior to the release of this poll, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who heads the Republican Senate electoral operations, speculated that the White House may force Giannoulias off the ticket. Cornyn admitted he had no evidence, but stated, "I don't know. Giannoulias is a flawed candidate and they are realizing it and I think they are worried. . . . I hope they respect the choices of Democratic primary voters and don't engage in some sort of back-room shenanigans."

White House advisor David Axelrod, a Chicagoan, denies there is a drive afoot to dump Alexi.

But if that does occur, Giannoulias would be the second victor in February's Democratic primary to quit the ticket. Pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen, was forced off after a series of embarrassing revelations about his private life, including an arrest for assaulting his then-girlfriend, a prostitute, were revealed.

Technorati tags: Illinois Mark Kirk Congress illinois politics Republican Senate Democrats Alexi Giannoulias rod blagojevich Blagojevich Roland Burris David Axelrod scott lee cohen John Cornyn Texas