Illinois Republicans are making efforts to connect the Democrats to the SEIU in the race for Obamas old Senate Seat. Roland "I am not a crook" Burris (D - Crook County) is currently keeping the seat warm.

Illinois Republicans are using a union endorsement Democrat Alexi Giannoulias received Thursday to again try to make disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich a central figure in the U.S. Senate race.

The powerful 170,000-member Illinois chapter of the Service Employees International Union endorsed Giannoulias, the state treasurer, in his bid for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat, and Republicans jumped at the chance to point out the union's ties to Blagojevich.

SEIU was one of the largest contributors to Blagojevich's campaigns before lawmakers removed him from office in January after his arrest on federal corruption charges that included accusations he tried to sell or trade Obama's Senate seat to enrich himself.

One of the things Blagojevich wanted, according to a federal indictment, was a high-paying job at a union organization affiliated with SEIU. Tom Balanoff, president of SEIU's Illinois chapter, has said he will make a good witness for the prosecution at Blagojevich's trial.

The GOP suggested the endorsement reflected badly on Giannoulias and pressed him to explain why he would accept it.

Cross Posted at Power and Control