Taking the Gloves Off

Rod and Judy took the gloves off in their first debate.

Here's Governor Blagojevich. Tribune:

The governor said Topinka had taken more than $500,000 in campaign cash from banks her office does business with, as well as having previously accepted donations from her state workers. He also said her office had faced the scrutiny of federal investigators over allegations that state workers did political work on taxpayer time.

"The hypocrisy here is so thick, I'm having a hard time to breathe," Blagojevich said. "She can criticize me, but when she criticizes me about things that she, herself, does, it's astounding."

Topinka has said her office has not heard from federal investigators in three years.

But I think Judy got in the best hits. Sun Times:

"You have the most investigated administration in the history of the state of Illinois -- the most investigated," Topinka told the governor. "I still have a name. You're Public Official A.

And this:

She rejected Blagojevich's programs as publicity stunts that the state cannot afford.

"You pushed this debt on to our children," Topinka said. "That's what you've done for kids in this state. ... You're only as good as yesterday's headline. And that's it."

You can watch it Sunday morning at 9 on WMAQ-5 City Desk, or Monday at 11.