Here's an awkward bit of political news.
This morning, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' U.S. Senate campaign ripped Rasmussen Reports, citing how some political commentators have called the polling firm "weird," "controversial" and "pro-Republican."
The campaign was pre-empting figures that it clearly expected would show Republican Mark Kirk beating Giannoulias, the same way it showed the GOP's Bill Brady beating Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.
Then, lo and behold, Rasmussen's poll showed Giannoulias defeating Kirk.
So what did the Giannoulias campaign do? Naturally, it sent the results to his supporters.
Let's compare.
Here's what the campaign said to reporters, before the results came out:
"As much as Mark Kirk's campaign and the Republican Party like to stretch reality and put out misleading information, we ask that you cut through the spin and look at Rasmussen for what it is: a polling firm for Republican candidates."
And here's what it said afterward, to Giannoulias' supporters:
"Illinois voters have a thing or two to say about this Senate campaign. And it's not what the Republican smear machine or the Washington insiders or the beltway talking heads think.
"Not even close.
"Today, Rasmussen, a pro-Republican polling firm, released a poll showing that Alexi is beating Mark Kirk by four points, 44-41. That makes the third poll in as many weeks showing Illinois voters think Alexi Giannoulias is the clear choice in this campaign and the only candidate with the plan and record to fight for and create new jobs in Illinois."
To be fair, the Giannoulias campaign didn't entirely back away from the "pro-Republican" line, using it in the second message. Spokeswoman Kathleen Strand said the campaign is just trying to highlight that Kirk is struggling in the race.
"Even a polling firm that he should be able to depend on isn't showing him up," she said.