Online gambling odds favoring Lightfoot over Preckwinkle as mayoral race gets personal

CHICAGO (FOX 32) - The race for Chicago mayor is getting personal as both candidates Monday denounced anonymous, anti-gay leaflets aimed at Lori Lightfoot. 

Toni Preckwinkle also addressed reports that Chicago police have repeatedly been called to a condo she owns, where her son and her three grandchildren apparently reside.

The Sun-Times reported one neighbor sought a court order of protection against Preckwinkle's 37-year old son, Kyle Preckwinkle. While he was acquitted of misdemeanor battery in 2013, police were called to his home eight times in the last 14 months. He blames it on "vindictive" neighbors and also his wife, when she's angry with him.

“You know, look,” Preckwinkle said. “I love my children. They're adults and they lead their own lives.”   

Equally reluctant to discuss it: Preckwinkle's mayoral runoff rival.

“It's always a sensitive issue when you're talking about somebody's family,” Lightfoot said. “And I really think that's not for me to comment on.” 

The Sun-Times also reported that Lightfoot, a wealthy attorney at one of Chicago’s largest law firms, once had to pay off two small tax liens filed against her. She declined to provide details.

“Well, look. This is kind of, I think a tempest in a teapot!” Lightfoot said. “We're talking about $2,000 in the aggregate. I don't think that's a determining factor one way or the other.”

Both candidates objected to anonymous, anti-gay fliers targeting the openly gay Lightfoot at African-American churches this past weekend on the West Side and South Side.

“I have no idea where it came from,” Preckwinkle said. “And, as I said, it's despicable.”

Lightfoot is an overwhelming favorite among online gamblers. One site currently charges 95 cents for a bet that would pay only five cents more if Lightfoot wins.

The same gambling website gives fans of Preckwinkle a chance to pay nine cents for a bet that delivers a dollar should she win on April 2.