Meister drops out, backs Giannoulias for Senate

SPRINGFIELD -- Little-known attorney Jacob Meister is dropping out of the Illinois Senate race and endorsing Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

Meister said Sunday that he got into the race to talk about job-creation and progressive issues. As a gay man, he also found himself asked to speak up on problems facing homosexual people.

But Meister's campaign never caught fire. Polls found him with single-digit support.

Although his name will still appear on Tuesday's ballot, Meister is asking people to vote for Giannoulias in the Democratic primary.

He says Giannoulias will support many of his job ideas and will also fight discrimination.

Giannoulias leads in the polls, followed by former prosecutor David Hoffman and Cheryle Jackson of the Chicago Urban League.