Cook County Democratic Party boss Toni Preckwinkle exposed her mayoral campaign's desperation by launching a weak attack on ballot rival Lori Lightfoot — a fellow African-American woman — for overcoming childhood poverty to become a successful attorney.

The TV attack ad that calls Lightfoot a "wealthy corporate lawyer" who defended a Wall Street bank sued for racial discrimination, among other things, is a blatant attempt to slap a negative label on Lightfoot, who most Chicagoans have just started getting to know. Local news outlets used the ad to sum up the mayoral run-off in headlines — "Wealthy Attorney" vs. "Machine Politics" — that are only half right.

The feds did expose Preckwinkle as a phony independent tied to the Democratic Machine when they charged Ald. Ed Burke with shaking down a Burger King owner for a $10,000 campaign contribution to Preckwinkle — just a taste of more than $100,000 the 14th Ward boss raised for the Cook County board president at a house party. [ Commentary ]

But tagging Lightfoot as a rich lawyer and a sellout doesn't resonate as a slur. Not when you're talking about a former federal prosecutor who, unlike Preckwinkle, launched her mayoral bid to take on Rahm Emanuel before he decided to quit after two terms. "Frankly," Lightfoot will tell you herself that she can handle Preckwinkle's "ridiculous and offensive" attack ads "all day long." She's done a great job sharing her origin story, plans for a new, better Chicago and articulately arguing for your support with substance and wit.

Still, I know it's difficult to get to know somebody new — an outsider in Chicago politics — when she's campaigning to get your vote while defending herself against a better-funded rival slinging half-truths and innuendo on TV ads.

So, let me tell you about the Lori Lightfoot I know.