Republican Rodney Davis is two points ahead of Democrat David Gill in the race for the 13th Congressional District, according to a We Ask America poll with a margin of error of three points. (WJBC File Photo)

By Jim Anderson

CHICAGO - It turns out that the six races for Congress in Illinois that were expected to be close are just that -- close.

A new round of polling finds them all within two points, while the margin of error is three points.

This means no let-up in the mud-slinging in TV ads paid for by the candidates, their parties and outside groups, said Christopher Mooney, a University of Illinois political science professor. He said Tuesday you have to match your opponent or you’ll fall behind. 

“If you let those outrageous lies and falsehoods get unanswered, yeah, they just stick," he explained. "It’s the big lie theory. You say it loud enough and long enough, people are gonna believe it. So you’ve got to get up on air with yours, and it becomes just a cesspool of nastiness."

Mooney said the final weeks will see candidates sling more mud on TV, as well as use radio, direct mail, door-knocking, phone banking, rallies and endorsements. He added that with early voting soon to begin, the "ground game is important."

"Identifying your voters, making sure they vote and helping them get to the polls if need be," he said.

The pollster, We Ask America, says these races are all close enough that they could go either way:
 

8th District
Tammy Duckworth (D) – 45
Rep. Joe Walsh (R) – 47
Sample size 1,158, MOE +/- 2.9

10th District
Brad Schneider (D) – 45
Rep. Robert Dold (R) – 47
Sample size: 1,172, MOE +/- 3

11th District
Bill Foster (D) – 44
Rep. Judy Biggert (R) – 46
Sample size: 1,253, MOE +/- 2.8

12th District
William Enyart (D) – 41
Jason Plummer (R) – 43
Sample size: 1,247, MOE +/- 2.8

13th District
David Gill (D) – 42
Rodney Davis (R) – 44
John Hartman (I) – 5
Sample size: 1,253, MOE +/- 2.8

17th District
Cheri Bustos (D) – 46
Rep. Bobby Schilling (R) – 45
Sample size: 1,183, MOE +/- 2.9