Today is the Illinois primary. TPM will have live results, updates, and analysis. Until then, here are ten things you need to know.
- Obama opens strong lead in Virginia: A new Quinnipiac poll has President Obama leading Mitt Romney 50% to 42% in Virginia. Obama beats Rick Santorum 49% to 40%, and blows Newt Gingrich out of the water with 54% percent to 34% percent. He leads Ron Paul 49% to 39%.
- Illinois primary includes crucial House races too: Illinois will be a big state for Democrats seeking to take back control of the House, and those races will take shape Tuesday after the Democratic primary. Illinois’s 10th district pits progressive favorite Ilya Sheyman against a more moderate Brad Schneider. Tammy Duckworth should win her primary to face off with Rep. Joe Walsh in November in District 8.
- Karen Santorum defends Rick on birth control: Defending her husband against charges of being anti-woman, Karen Santorum said Monday on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight: “Women have nothing to fear. When it comes to contraceptives, he will do nothing on that issue.”
- Santorum makes unemployment gaffe: Trying to prove a point, Rick Santorum said Monday in Illinois, “I don’t care what the unemployment rate’s going to be. Doesn’t matter to me.” The comment came as part of a larger message about the theme of the race, but that didn’t stop Romney from using it against him immediately.
- Barber to run for Gifford’s seat in November: Ron Barber, a longtime aide to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, announced Monday that he would not simply run for her seat in an upcoming special election, but also in the fall for another full term.
- Fundraising numbers show Dems, GOP fairly even in race for Congress: Fundraising numbers Monday show that the DSCC outraised the NRSC in February $5.3 million to $5 million with $3 million more cash on hand. The DCCC raised $6.3 million to the NRCC’s $5.1, but is down about $4 million in cash on hand.
- Paul at fundraiser in California, Newt campaigns in Louisiana: Neither Ron Paul nor Newt Gingrich will be in Illinois today. Ron Paul will attend a fundraiser in Burbank Tuesday and appear on late-night TV. Newt Gingrich is campaigning in Louisiana ahead of their Saturday primary.
- Romney sets up camp in Illinois to watch returns: Romney will host a watch party in Illinois Tuesday night as the results come in. Romney will be in Schaumburg, Illinois.
- Santorum will watch returns from Gettysburg, PA: Rick Santorum will host an election night watch party in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A press release from the campaign said that they will celebrate the “Land of Lincoln’s” primary in “the very place President Lincoln gave his most poignant and passionate defense of freedom and the American spirit.”
- After Illinois, Maryland and D.C.: After Tuesday, Mitt Romney will head to the east coast and hold an event in Arbutus, Maryland Wednesday. Thursday, he is slated to head into D.C. for a fundraising event. Maryland and D.C., along with Wisconsin, have their primaries on April 3.