Another GOP pick up in the US Senate: Illinois, where Kirk wins.

As many Democratic held seats change hands in the US House, a surprising number of US Senate races remain competitive for Democrats: races in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois remain too close to call. Republican candidates were in the lead in all of these races in pre-election polling for these states. This may could be a long evening.

The race for US Senate in Illinois remains too-close-to-call. A new Rasmussen survey in Illinois reports that Democrat Alexi Giannoulias holds a scant (and statistically insignificant) +1% lead over Republican Rep. Mark Kirk, 40% to 39%.

With a banking scandal brewing around the Democratic nominee, the race for U.S. Senate in Illinois has grown more favorable to the Republican candidate. A new DailyKos/Research 2000 poll in Illinois reports that GOP Rep. Mark Kirk now leads Alexi Giannoulias the race, 41% to 38%.

PollTrack rates the race Too-Close-To Call.

Are Republicans headed for victory in the U.S. Senate race in Illinois, possibly winning the seat once held by President Obama? A new Rasmussen survey in Illinois suggests that the answer may be yes. The poll finds that Democratic Alexi Giannoulias falling  behind his Republican challenger, Rep. Mark Kirk (R). Kirk now leads Giannoulias by eight points, 46% to 38%.

A new Rasmussen survey in Illinois shows Republican Rep. Mark Kirk besting Democrat Alexi Giannoulias (D) in their U.S. Senate race, 41% to 37%. With the lead statistically insignificant--and the number of undecided voters high--PollTrack continues to rate the race too close to call.

According to PollTrack's first read of the 2010 US Senate Race for Illinois's open seat, neither party has an edge in this Democrat-leaning state. PollTrack First Call: Toss Up.

A poll out from Rasmussen reports that voters would prefer that incumbent (and embattled) Illinois US Senator Roland Burris not seek reelection in 2010. The Democrat, who was appointed to fill the seat of President Obama, is not popular: "61% of voters now say they would definitely vote against [the Senator] if he runs for a full term in 2010 . . . That result is up from 54% back in April. Burris was named to the Senate by since-impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich . . . 6% of voters would definitely vote for Burris, while 32% say their vote would depend on who runs against him."

According to a report in the Chicago Sun Times, embattled Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) met with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday afternoon and delivered two distinct messages: "he will not resign in the wake of the controversy surrounding his appointment by the ousted Gov. Blagojevich and he will not run for the seat in 2010. Burris has finally realized that not seeking election next year is the least price he will pay."

A new Chicago Tribune poll reports that more Illinois voters want to see Democratic Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn run for Senate in 2010 than newly-appointed Democrat Sen. Roland Burris. 48% of registered voters would like to see Quinn run, 15% do not want him to run and 37% are undecided. Voters want Burris to run by a narrower margin--37% to 33%, with 29% undecided.