The endorsement of GOP state Sen. Peter Roskam over Tammy Duckworth angered some Illinois veterans, as well as national figures such as former Sen. Bob Kerrey, a veteran who lost a leg in Vietnam.

"They should be ashamed of themselves," he said. "They have some explaining to do to their members."

Duckworth is a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot with the Army who lost her legs when her aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Roskam's support for veterans, national security, defense and military personnel issues led to the endorsement, the PAC's national director, Salvatore J. Capirchio, wrote in a Nov. 1 letter to the candidate, provided to The Associated Press by the campaign.

"We also solicited comments from the VFW leadership in your state," Capirchio wrote.

A spokesman for the VFW political action committee did not immediately return calls for comment. The endorsement was announced by the two campaigns.

Flanked by more than 20 veterans at a news conference, Duckworth said she was never contacted by the organization or asked to fill out a questionnaire, as typically happens when organizations are deciding which candidates to endorse.

"I think it's unfortunate they did this," she said.

Duckworth has said that invading Iraq was a mistake but now that American troops are there, withdrawal should be tied to an aggressive training plan for Iraqi forces.