Poll shows Illinois Senate race tied

The Illinois Senate race is tied with less than two months to go before Election Day.

A new Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll had Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) both getting 34 percent in the statewide survey of 600 likely voters. The poll, which was conducted Aug. 28-Sept. 1., also found there was 22 percent undecided.

One troubling sign for Democrats: Kirk led Giannoulias 34 percent to 23 with independents. But Giannoulias had an advantage over Kirk among African-American voters, 58 percent to 3, with 26 percent undecided.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee recently pledged $3.4 million to bolster Kirk's campaign. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the Democrats won't make a similar committement to Giannoulias.