Giannoulias goes on offensive about banks

As Alexi Giannoulias (above) battles with five-term congressman Republican Mark Kirk for a U.S. Senate seat from Illinois, Broadway Bank, Giannoulias' family owned bank, and its financial struggles have become the central issue in the race. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

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CHICAGO – Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk is denying claims by Democrat Alexi Giannoulias that he opposed banking reforms.

In a release Thursday, Kirk's campaign says the congressman was among the first legislators to support reforms. It also asserts Kirk called for more funding of white collar crime investigations.

Earlier in the day, Giannoulias criticized Kirk's legislative record on banking regulation. He said Kirk voted to bail out Wall Street firms but opposed attempts at reform.

Giannoulias has been pummeled in the media with questions about the performance of his family's bank.

Broadway Bank could be nearing collapse. It entered into a consent decree with regulators that gives it until the end of April to raise about $85 million.

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