Illinois: Republicans, Democrats target Obama Senate seat in nation's 1st primary

Obama's home state of Illinois is holding this year's first primary, where the party faithful make their picks for November's mid-term elections.

The Senate contest is expected to be shaped by forces -- a sour economy, an anti-incumbent mood and doubts about Obama among independent voters -- that spell trouble for Democrats.

And Republicans hoping to harness voter anger and ride to victory in November could deal a devastating blow to their rivals should they capture Obama's coveted seat.

In a normal election year, Republicans would have slim chances of winning in the Democrat-leaning midwestern state where Obama romped to a 62-38 percent victory in his 2008 rout of Republican White House rival John McCain.

"The Democrats should be in a position, here in Illinois, where they survive a national trend going towards the Republican party," said DePaul University political science professor Michael Mezey.

But they lack a heavyweight candidate for the seat and must escape the "taint" of corruption, Mezey said in a telephone interview.

Republicans hope to gain extra traction from voter frustration with a slew of scandals amid top local Democratic leaders -- most notably the indictment on corruption charges of former Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich, who stands accused of trying to auction off Obama's seat to the highest bidder.