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Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, of Colona, left, shakes hands with Democratic challenger Cheri Bustos, of East Moline, during a televised debate against at WQAD in Moline, Ill. on Thursday Oct. 11, 2012. The debate was sponsored by WQAD and The Disp The Dispatch, Todd Welvaert) MANDATORY CREDIT, QUAD CITY TIMES OUT, Associated Press
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Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, of Colona, left, speaks during televised debate with Democratic challenger Cheri Bustos, of East Moline, at WQAD in Moline, Ill. on Thursday Oct. 11, 2012. The debate was sponsored by WQAD and The Dispatch & The Rock The Dispatch, Todd Welvaert) MANDATORY CREDIT, QUAD CITY TIMES OUT, Associated Press
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ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, OCT. 14 AND THEREAFTER - In this Oct. 9, 2012 photo, Democrat Tammy Duckworth speaks during her debate with her challenger, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Duckworth, an Iraq veteran and former helicopter pi Daily Herald, Patrick Kunzer) MANDATORY CREDIT, MAGS OUT, TV OUT, Associated Press
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ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, OCT. 14 AND THEREAFTER - FILE -In this Aug. 12, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama waves as he walks through his Hyde Park neighborhood to a campaign event in Chicago. In the presidential race Obama is almost certain to carry Carolyn Kaster, File, Associated Press
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ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, OCT. 14 AND THEREAFTER - FILE -In this Aug. 7, 2012 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right is greeted by Illinois state Treasurer Dan Rutherford, Romney's Illinois chairman, on h Charles Dharapak, File, Associated Press
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ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, OCT. 14 AND THEREAFTER - In this Oct. 9, 2012 photo, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep Joe Walsh makes a point during a debate with his Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Walsh, a tea party favorite with a h Daily Herald, Patrick Kunzer) MANDATORY CREDIT, MAGS OUT, TV OUT, Associated Press
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ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, OCT. 14 AND THEREAFTER - FILE -In this Aug. 12, 2012 file photo, Illinois state Rep. Derrick Smith speaks at a news conference in Chicago. The Chicago Democrat was booted out of the House after he was indicted on federal bribery ch Nam Y. Huh, File, Associated Press
By Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The big Illinois prizes in next month's election are a handful of congressional seats that could help change the balance of power in Washington.

No statewide offices are up for grabs, and President Barack Obama is almost certain to carry his home state again. So that puts Congress in the spotlight.

Democrats dream of picking up four or five seats now held by Republicans. That would help Democrats in their quest to regain control of the U.S. House.

All 177 seats in the Illinois General Assembly are on the ballot, too.

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And voters get to decide whether to amend the state constitution so that it's harder to improve pension benefits for public employees.

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