Giannoulias to formally announce Senate bid

Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is formally announcing his bid for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.

Giannoulias will visit seven Illinois cities in three days starting on Sunday in Chicago and Springfield.

On Monday, the Democrat will travel to Carbondale and the Metro East area before heading to Rockford, the Quad Cities and Peoria on Tuesday.

The first-term state treasurer wants the seat Sen. Roland Burris is giving up.

Burris has served under a cloud since he was appointed to replace Obama by ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Burris has bowed out of the 2010 election, citing fundraising problems.

Five-term Congressman Mark Kirk announced this week that he's running for the Republican nomination.