Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is acquiring the skills of a veteran campaign fundraiser to collect contributions for the young Democrat’s potential 2010 U.S. Senate canvass.

Giannoulias, 32, said Thursday while visiting Southern Illinois University Carbondale he met with Edward M. Smith earlier this week to discuss his role in the campaign. Smith has financed campaigns for state Democratic legislators, such as Sen. Gary Forby and Rep. Brandon Phelps, and was a key fundraiser for Glenn Poshard’s and Rod Blagojevich’s Illinois gubernatorial bids.

‘Ed is a great guy,’ Giannoulias said. ‘He can get things done.’

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Giannoulias said he met with Smith on Monday, and announced the formation of an exploratory committee 24 hours later.

Smith’s name has not been included in the investigation of Blagojevich and how he came about some of his campaign contributions. He assisted Giannoulias’ run for treasurer in 2006, Giannoulias said during a ceremony honoring Smith at Shawnee Community College in October.

Smith did not return a phone message to comment on his role in Giannoulias’ campaign Thursday night.

Giannoulias is testing the state’s waters to see how they would treat him in the 2010 primary against other state Democrats for President Obama’s former senate seat.

He and Sen. Roland Burris, who was tapped by Blagojevich in January to fill the seat, have launched campaign Web sites. Like Obama’s presidential campaign Web site, Giannoulias asks visitors to sign up for email updates before entering the site.

‘This is me responding to a lot of encouragement from throughout the state, and quite frankly from across the country who are interested in seeing fresh and innovative leadership in the United States Senate.’ Giannoulias said.

He and Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois’ senior senator, recently returned from a fact finding trip to Greece and Turkey. It was thought that Durbin, who encouraged Obama to run for president, was consulting Giannoulias on vying for Congress.

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Giannoulias said he still believes Burris should resign from the seat after the 72-year-old Democrat revised his story on mustering campaign funds for Blagojevich in exchange for being appointed to the Senate.

Daily Egyptian reporter Barton Lorimor can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 263 or [email protected].

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