Even if there is a red wave in Illinois, in Senate race, Dem Duckworth holds lead over GOP’s Salvi

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., left, from Hoffman Estates, is seeking a second term. Republican challenger Kathy Salvi, is an attorney from Mundelein. (Sun-Times file (Duckworth); Lynn Sweet (Salvi))

Even the red wave that panicky Illinois Democrats are bracing for likely won’t do near enough to lift up GOP Senate nominee Kathy Salvi, in an uphill battle to catch frontrunner Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth since she jumped into the contest.

Duckworth, 54, from Hoffman Estates, who moved up to the Senate after serving two terms in the House from a northwest suburban district, is leading Salvi in two key metrics: polls and fundraising.