CHICAGO - Continuing to build on his growing base of support, U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias was proud to receive the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC this week.  The group, which had given Republican Congressman Mark Kirk high ratings in the past, chose Giannoulias for his commitment to supporting the pro-choice platform and protecting women's rights.

"Too many voters in Illinois are under the wrong impression that they can count on Mark Kirk to consistently stand up for a woman's right to choose," said President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy Keenan said. "That perception is wrong. This election is about a pro-choice champion like Alexi Giannoulias versus a 'great pretender' like Kirk. It is clear that Giannoulias will be a senator who stands up for the values of freedom and privacy. Giannoulias has the experience necessary to keep this crucial Senate seat in pro-choice hands. He brings a distinguished record of support for a woman's right to choose to this race."

Kirk voted last year for the Stupak amendment, a sweeping anti-choice measure that would have dramatically restricted a woman's right to choose in the new health care system.  At the time, Keenan said that Kirk's vote showed that he was choosing to support "radically conservative views."

"Washington insider Mark Kirk continues to lose support as more and more people learn about his record. The longer he stays in Washington, the more he embraces fringe right-wing positions that are out of touch with Illinois, as seen by his support for the anti-choice Stupak amendment," Giannoulias said.

"Women need a relentless champion for their rights in Congress, not a typical Washington politician who is willing to abandon them on a whim to score political points. We need to make sure we protect a woman's right to choose from people like Mark Kirk, which is why I'm so proud to have NARAL Pro-choice America as an ally in that fight."