Topspin The crowded field of Democrats running for Illinois attorney general will cram into Tribune Tower today for an endorsement session that will be streamed live here at 11 a.m. A few hours later, a similar session with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board featuring Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and challenger former Ald. Bob Fioretti will be streamed at 2 p.m. It might be tough for each of the eight Democratic attorney general candidates to get much speaking time over the course of an hour or so. Still, people who want a primer on the contest might want to tune in. Why such a big field? The surprise announcement last fall that Attorney General Lisa Madigan wouldn't run again provides politicians looking for a promotion a rare shot at a plum statewide office. If you're trying to keep score, here's a list of the Democratic AG candidates: former Gov. Pat Quinn, former federal prosecutor and cable TV guest Renato Mariotti, Lake County state Rep. Scott Drury, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, Chicago state Sen. Kwame Raoul, Chicago Park District President Jesse Ruiz, former head of the city's new police oversight agency Sharon Fairley and Northwest Side attorney Aaron Goldstein. Meanwhile, Preckwinkle is bidding for a third term as board president. Fioretti is trying to get traction by criticizing last year's short-lived soda pop tax. That will be a one-on-one endorsement session after former board President Todd Stroger didn't follow through on a suggestion he'd run again. What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will speak at the U.S. Conference of Mayors gathering in Washington, D.C. *Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public events. *The Chicago Board of Education meets. The Chicago Teachers Union will hold a news conference beforehand to talk about ethics. *Republican governor candidate Jeanne Ives will announce endorsements at a Chicago news conference. *Democratic governor candidate Daniel Biss will be in Naperville to speak to Naperville Indivisible. From the notebook *Faint praise?: One of the most notable moments of Tuesday night's NBC5 Democratic governor debate came near the end when moderator Carol Marin asked the candidates to "name a positive thing your opponent has brought to this race." She started with J.B. Pritzker, who was first on the stage, with Chris Kennedy to his right. Here's what followed: Pritzker: "Well, I admire very much the work that Mr. Kennedy's family has done on behalf of the Special Olympics. It's something very important for us to recognize. I want to congratulate him and his family on the work that they've done." Q. Mr. Kennedy? (Pauses) Kennedy: "I mean I'm challenged in this election because I think that as Democrats, we believe government can be our ally. And when J.B. emerges as the poster child of all that's wrong with the corrupt system in our state, it's difficult for me to heap praise on him. And that's where I unfortunately need to end it." Q. Mr. Biss, do you have something that you believe is worthy of praise among your opponents? Biss: "Happy to. I appreciate J.B. Pritzker's record of philanthropy. Thank you for that. And I have a lot of affection, Chris, for your family and I don't even mean the wonderful legacy of service. But your son Chris is a wonderful young man and your sister Kathleen is a great leader on retirement security and I appreciate their remarkable work." Afterward, Kennedy was asked about his inability to say something nice about Pritzker. "I regret that. I apologized to him while I was leaving the stage," Kennedy replied. He tried to clean things up by praising Pritzker for "an incredible record around providing early childhood education, working towards that." Kennedy also later rattled off a list of what he said were Pritzker's liabilities. And when asked what his own weaknesses were, Kennedy said, "My honesty." For the record, Downstate candidate Bob Daiber praised Chicagoan Tio Hardiman's work resolving gang conflicts on Chicago's streets, including with CeaseFire. "He's taught me a lot about racial justice." Hardiman said Daiber "keeps the schools working properly and effective in Downstate Illinois." Perennial candidate Robert Marshall praised Hardiman as an "honest politician" for offering specifics on his graduated income tax plan. "I oppose it," Marshall added, to laughter from the audience. (Kim Geiger) *Endorsements: Democratic state Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill endorsed fellow Sen. Raoul in the Illinois attorney general race. ... Abortion rights group Personal PAC endorsed J.B. Pritzker in the Democratic primary for governor, but didn't pick a candidate in the attorney general contest. The group also backed Preckwinkle and Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios for re-election. ... The Democratic County Chairs' Association announced that it's endorsing Matt Brolley of Montgomery in the primary race to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren of Plano. What we're writing *Lawsuit: Rauner had a meeting about an investment on the back porch of the governor's mansion. *Pritzker-Biss rivalry emerges at first televised Democratic governor debate. *Illinois Capitol workers should wash hands with "pencil-sized stream of water" after tests find possible bacteria. *Audit slams state oversight of Illinois Medicaid managed care programs. *State charter leader accuses CTU of power grab as merger vote nears. What we're reading *Duckworth baby #2 on the way; she would be first to give birth while serving in U.S. Senate. *Minnesota Public Radio: Allegations against Keillor far beyond single touch. *Logan Square artist in cat custody battle with pet rescue shelter. *Reports of a cougar sighting in DuPage County, but one hasn't turned up. Follow the money *Lake Forest businessman Richard Uihlein gave $3 million to Liberty Principles PAC, the group run by radio host Dan Proft to help elect Republicans to legislative seats. Uihlein gave Liberty Principles $2 million in September but has yet to donate to Republican Rauner challenger state Rep. Jeanne Ives' governor campaign. *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Mueller wants to talk to Trump about Comey. *Comey and Sessions have been interviewed. *New book focuses on Trump and the media. *Americans killed in Kabul attack. | 
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