The Illinois GOP presidential straw poll began online last week. For voters who prefer the traditional paper ballot, the main event is Saturday.

Republicans candidates have made appearances but have not spent a lot of time in Illinois.

The Land of Lincoln is of course home to Barack Obama, the sitting president and Democratic candidate; so, Republicans will likely face an uphill battle in the state.

To get a better sense of the field heading into the weekend, political consultant David Dring joined Eight Forty-Eight to handicap the field.

Dring is former advisor to Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross and is a political and public affairs consultant with Fletcher, O’Brien, Kasper & Nottage.