Democratic Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias kicks off the general election season in Springfield today at the home of his new campaign chairman, Illinois' own Sen. Dick Durbin. The pair is expected to talk about job creation at today's event.

UPDATED (2:35 p.m.): From a press release:

"The United States Senate needs a strong, fresh voice that will join me in fighting to bring good, new jobs to Illinois," said Senator Durbin. "Alexi fought for and saved 600 Illinois jobs at the Hartmarx plant. We need that passion and commitment to help move our country and state forward. Mark Kirk will only take us backwards to the failed economic policies that brought us into one of the worst economic recessions since the Great Depression."