Ill. Parties Sort Through Senate, House Races For Chances.

A crowded U.S. Senate race will top the Illinois primary ballot March 16, while both parties will be scrutinizing next Monday's candidate filing deadline to see if they can turn relatively safe districts into competitive races. Among Republicans running to succeed retiring GOP Senator Peter Fitzgerald, millionaire investment banker Jack Ryan, wealthy paper company executive Andy McKenna and Senator Steve Rauschenberger have created the most political buzz. A spokesman for state House Speaker Michael Madigan, Illinois' Democratic Party chairman, said political experience counts more than money in statewide politics.