Hurtling Toward 2010, 12/15

The 2010 midterms are just around the corner (sort of). Here's what's happening:

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), who is running for President Obama's old Senate seat, attacked the administration's decision to transfer some Guantanamo detainees to a prison in Illinois; his opponent, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D), supported the move; Giannoulias's campaign also hit Kirk for voting against the omnibus spending bill, as it included foreign aid to Israel (which Kirk has supported in the past); Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) says he will vote against funding the Afghanistan troop surge; a Public Policy Polling survey shows a GOP opponent within striking distance of Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (though still down seven percentage points, with 15 percent undecided); former Rep. Ed Case (D) is up with his first TV ad in the special election to replace retiring Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI).