The Sun-Times is the first of Chicago's two major dailies to throw their support behind a candidate.  Today they enthusiastically endorsed Mike Quigley:

He is what he is, a scrappy policy wonk who actually cares about the stuff he fights for. Not a guy who has glommed on to these issues because they're polling well. [...]

Quigley's a fighter, but he's also a pragmatist who has found a way to work with many colleagues, even those with whom he has clashed, and we suspect that in Congress he'll be no different.

Back in November, voters elected Barack Obama as part of a wave of change.

Quigley is, in his own way, part of the same wave.

A true instrument for change.

Send him to Congress.

The editorial also hat-tips Sara Feigenholtz, Tom Geoghegan, and Charlie Wheelan as "impressive and thoughtful candidates."  But as Huffington Post Chicago notes: "Conspicuously unmentioned was State Rep. John Fritchey."  For more Sun-Times coverage of the race, check out Abdon Pallasch's profiles of Feigenholtz, Fritchey, and Quigley over the past week.

Meanwhile, here's the video from the Tribune's February 12 editorial board meeting with the top tier candidates: Quigley, Fritchey, Pat O'Connor, Feigenholtz, Geogheghan, and Wheelan:

The discussion included questions about the stimulus (1:00 mark), cleaning up state government (13:00 mark), challenging Democratic Party orthodoxy (30:00 mark), Afghanistan (39:00 mark), taxes (48:00 mark), campaign mudslinging (53:00 mark), and Wal-Mart in Chicago (59:00 mark). 

Following this policy-rich conversation, the Tribune chose to devote its Thursday article to the flap over a message-testing poll apparently conducted by the Feigenholtz campaign last month, which included negative questions about Fritchey and Quigley. Feigenholtz hasn't done herself any favors by repeatedly deflecting questions about the survey.  When this issue first surfaced, she could have put the issue to bed by saying something along these lines: "Don't judge me by what my campaign tests in a poll to 400 people -- judge me by the messaging I ultimately approve." After all, almost every campaign tests negative messages (Fritchey admitted as much during the Trib meeting).  And sometimes a question can be a bit extreme or based on faulty oppo research.  But as we've said before, the real test is whether these attacks make their way into the field.

Regardless, with a little over two weeks left until Election Day, it would have been nice if the Tribune had informed its readers about the candidates' policy statements, rather than focusing on the sniping.  (We'll have more on the substantive side of the meeting later.)

We reported yesterday on Feigenholtz's first TV ad and noted that Fritchey was expected to follow suit shortly.  Indeed, some of the Chicago-area networks confirmed yesterday that he has reserved airtime starting early next week.  Capitol Fax has more: 

[Feigenholtz's] ad buy is for about $93,000 and has 250 ratings points behind it. It’s running today the 13th through the 19th. [...]

Rep. Fritchey goes on the air this coming Tuesday with a broadcast TV ad of his own. The ad buy is reportedly $170,250 for about 400 ratings points. It will run February 17-23.

Our calls to Chicago TV stations indicate that Feigenholtz is positioning her ads around newscasts, as well as daytime programs such as ABC's Oprah.  By contrast, a good deal of Fritchey's ad buy is targeted at the late-night-crowd.

Finally, the national progressive organization Democracy For America is asking supporters to participate in an online poll to help determine their endorsement in the race.  The candidates who applied for the endorsement are Jan Donatelli, John Fritchey, Tom Geoghegan, Carlos Monteagudo, Mike Quigley, and Charlie Wheelan.  Click here to cast your vote.  Once the endorsement is made, DFA will enlist its nationwide progressive network to help their favored candidate both in terms of campaign contributions and volunteer work.

Full disclosure: The SEIU Illinois Council -- which is the sole sponsor of Progress Illinois -- has endorsed Sara Feigenholtz in the 5th Congressional District race.  Progress Illinois itself will not be endorsing any candidate in this contest.