Robin Kelly took the first step toward possibly becoming the state's next treasurer Tuesday by easily besting Justin Oberman in the Democratic primary.

With 91 percent of the vote counted in unofficial totals statewide, Kelly had 58 percent of the vote to 42 percent for Oberman.

Kelly, a former state lawmaker from Chicago and current chief of staff to outgoing Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, said she was grateful for voters' support.

And in the race for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, I think a former state representative, ROBIN KELLY of Matteson, more recently chief of staff to Treasurer Giannoulias, wins over JUSTIN OBERMAN, a Chicago businessman whose father, a Springfield native, was a reform-minded alderman in Chicago some years back.

January 27, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- The race for Illinois Treasurer is heating up. Alexi Giannoulias is vacating the seat in his bid for the US Senate, but his position could still have an influence.

Giannoulias's top aide is running to fill her boss's seat in the treasurer's office. She is telling voters that what she's learned during the past three years makes her the best choice for the job, but her opponent is using that experience against her.