Durbin way ahead in cash

Sen. Dick Durbin already has $7.3 million in his campaign fund as he prepares for a November general election where he is a heavy favorite. The Springfield Democrat, who has no primary challenger, took in a bit more than $1 million from October through mid-January, based on a campaign disclosure report filed Thursday. He spent about $359,000 during the period. Three little-known Republicans -- none of whom has ever held public office -- are competing for their party's nomination. Their reports -- including one for Steve Sauerberg, a Willowbrook physician endorsed by the state GOP leadership -- were not immediately available. The other candidates are Internet freelance writer Andy Martin and former trucker Mike Psak, who have said they are running bare-bones campaigns.