CHICAGO – After months of drama surrounding Jesse Jackson Jr.’s seat in Congress, the race to replace the congressman with the prominent name has pivoted to a different high-profile topic: guns.

Only a short time ago, most of the attention in Illinois’ 2nd District was fixed on Jackson himself, specifically his mysterious leave of absence and a federal investigation, reportedly into misuse of campaign funds. But December’s school shooting in Connecticut brought renewed attention to Chicago’s own gun violence and refocused one of the nation’s first major elections since the Newtown massacre.

With less than two weeks before the special primary, “A’’ grades from the National Rifle Association are being hurled about like the ugliest of insults. A super PAC backed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent $1.27 million on ads warning voters to “watch out” for a leading candidate who opposes an assault weapons ban. And a state senator once considered a front-runner dropped out after being arrested for having a handgun in his bag at O’Hare International Airport.