 Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson, Jr. and by then-Senator Barack Obama.The Chicago Sun-Times news group also endorsed Giannoulias in the general election, arguing that he would "bring valuable private enterprise experience from banking to the job" and praising his "creative" policy proposals like a securities lending program, improving Bright Start, and promoting green energy.Running on a campaign platform that emphasized comprehensive ethics reform for the Treasurer's office, Giannoulias won the March 2006 primary and went on to defeat Republican candidate Christine Radogno in the general election.