The Rockford Register Star reports that President Bush on Friday will attend a major fundraiser in Peoria, Ill., for Aaron Schock, “a 26-year-old, first-time congressional candidate.” Shock is running for the seat now held by retiring Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., and already has a significant fundraising advantage over Democrat Colleen Callahan. The newspaper quotes one political science professor who says some candidates might not want Bush’s help this year because of his low popularity. “If it was a close race, I don’t think you’d see George Bush coming out here,” he said. But Bush still is a big fundraiser among Republicans. LaHood told the newspaper that Republicans are concerned about a big Democratic turnout on election day with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at the top of the ticket. “We can’t take [the race] for granted.”

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Minnesota Democrats have filed a complaint against the sponsors of two ads “that slam U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken for supporting federal legislation making union organizing easier.” The state Democratic party says the ads, sponsored by two independent groups, include “intentionally false statements,” about the legislation. It charges that is a violation of Minnesota election law. The Employee Freedom Action Committee, an ad sponsor, called the complaint to state authorities “frivolous.” Franken is attemptiong to oust Rep. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.