THE CANDIDATES

- Alexi Giannoulias, 33, is Illinois' first-term state treasurer and a former executive at his family's bank. He is the candidate with the money and the backing of large labor unions in the state. His campaign is focusing on the plight of working families and small businesses.

- David Hoffman, 42, is the former inspector general for the city of Chicago and a former federal prosecutor. He's counting on his watchdog credentials to appeal to Illinois voters weary after the Blagojevich corruption scandal.

- Cheryle Jackson is making her first run for office but she isn't new to politics. Jackson, who turns 45 on Jan. 26, was Blagojevich's communications director and eventually his deputy chief of staff before she left the administration in 2006. She now heads the Chicago Urban League, where she focused on education and economic development for small business. She's the only black Democrat running for a seat that has been held by three of the nation's four black senators in modern times.

- Jacob Meister is a 44-year-old Chicago attorney making his first run for office. Meister calls himself the "jobs and economy candidate." He says he understands how to turn around the economy because of the years he has spent representing businesses.

- Robert Marshall, 66, is a radiologist from suburban Chicago and a little-known candidate in the race. He says the country needs to spend less money fighting wars and more money fixing domestic problems.

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THE ISSUES

- Economy: The five Democrats support Obama's efforts to try to turn around the economy with a massive stimulus package. But if another stimulus is needed, they've got a few ideas about how to make it better. Giannoulias wants a payroll tax holiday for low- and middle-income workers and a new-jobs tax credit for small businesses. Jackson wants entrepreneurship rewarded and Marshall wants income-tax reductions for middle-class Americans.

- Health care: All the Democrats support a government-run insurance option to reform the health care system. Jackson and Hoffman say they won't support a Senate health care bill if it includes the same limits on abortion coverage that were in a House measure. Giannoulias and Meister say they would reluctantly vote for a bill with those restrictions. Marshall says federal money should not be used to cover abortions.

- Immigration: The five support a major overhaul of immigration laws, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Giannoulias supports making illegal immigrants pay a fine. Hoffman wants the temporary worker program expanded and Marshall opposes blanket amnesty.

- Afghanistan: The candidates are split on Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. Giannoulias and Meister support Obama's plan, while Jackson and Marshall want troops to withdraw. Hoffman disagrees with the troop escalation too, but thinks troops should remain in the area.

- Social Issues: All the Democrats support abortion rights. They also all say they will work to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

- Energy: An environmental bill capping pollution then allowing pollution "credits" to be sold is an issue in this race because the Republican primary front-runner has changed his position on the issue, first supporting it and now opposing it. Among the Democrats, only Marshall opposes so-called cap-and trade.

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THE HORSERACE

A Chicago Tribune poll in December showed the well-funded, well-connected Giannoulias leading the Democratic pack. He's got a built-in advantage because he's a statewide elected official. Hoffman has tried to chip away at that by hitting the airwaves and introducing himself to voters as an independent watchdog. Jackson has run an under-the-radar campaign, putting her campaign's first ad on the Web while asking supporters for the money to get it on broadcast TV.

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THE QUOTES

- Giannoulias: "Scandal, corruption, pay-to-play have been a bipartisan disgrace in Illinois."

- Hoffman: "I will never be the candidate of the insiders, of those who thrive in the current system or the selfish interests they serve."

- Jackson: "Our house is on fire right here at home. We can't afford these wars. We need to rebuild your schools and your hospitals."

- Meister: "What I really bring to this office is not just my understanding of government but my understanding of the real world where the rubber meets the road."

- Marshall: "I'm middle of the road and slight to the right of center."

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THE NET

- Giannoulias: http://www.alexiforillinois.com

- Hoffman: http://www.hoffmanforillinois.com

- Jackson: http://www.cheryle2010.com

- Meister: http://www.meisterforsenate.com

- Marshall: http://www.marshallforussenate.com