After a few days of odd back-and-forth over who's running for U.S. Senate and who's not, the two top Republican maybe-candidates, 10th District Congressman Mark Kirk and IL GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, have sorted things out amongst each other. Kirk won, and McKenna will step aside.
I haven't seen a lot of praise for McKenna for making the right decision, but we will laud him here, at least for that, although I know it may drive frequent commentor "FOKLAES" a little nuts. Hey, at least you don't have to deal with McKenna as your Senate candidate.
Anyway, the path is clear for Kirk to declare his Senate run, after much in the way of mixed signals coming from his camp. Let's hope his Senate run is a tightly-focused machine that comes out of the box with a clear plan to take on the state. It's a daunting task, given the blue nature of Illinois and the ever-present shadow of the Obama White House looming in the background, which one may assume will take a keen interest in not loosing this seat. But, the popular wisdom appears to be that if anyone can do it, Kirk can. From the Washington Times:
Until now, no one thought the Republicans had any chance to win the Senate seat in heavily Democratic Illinois, especially in the present climate, when the Republican brand has been badly damaged. However, Mr. Kirk may be the one candidate who can pull it off in a state where widespread corruption has badly damaged the Democrats' brand even more.
The youthful five-term congressman represents the Democratic-leaning 10th Congressional District, which Mr. Obama carried last year by 61 percent, but Mr. Kirk's cross-party appeal has kept it in the Republican column against all comers.
He is a prodigious fundraiser, too, having raised more than $580,000 in the second quarter, amassing a total of $1.1 million in cash on hand.
"Kirk is a very strong statewide candidate for Republicans. This is an easier race for them now that Madigan is not running," said Jennifer Duffy, senior elections analyst at the Cook Political Report.
Of course, there's nothing in this particular article that we in the 10th District didn't already know. But it's nice to see that the rest of the political universe is quickly catching on.
No official word on when the 'official' announcement will be, but I would bet it will be less than a week. Stay tuned, and in the meantime, let's start talking about Kirk's successor. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure that Kirk's legacy in IL-10 doesn't turn out to be "Congressman Michael Bond."
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10 comments:
I am an avowed enemy of Andy McKenna. Do not applaud him. Had he not challenged peter fitzgerald, Obama would be a state senator and John McCain would have beaten Hillary Clinton or even John Edwards for the white house.
We need to make sure the chipmunk's campaign ends up like his fellow furry critters that invade my house in the winter-dead and out of breath.
He has a jv team thus far, Bean's former district director, a woman who was a low level dccc hack and is just out of college as fundraising. And again he has several years of votes for tax increases and with blago to destroy him with which lee goodman and pupster didnt have. Let the pillaging and plundering commence!
I'm also hearing of some great candidates who will run on our side and have been meeting with national republicans in Washington. Stay tuned.
FOKLAES
While I like Andy McKenna (having volunteered on his previous Senate run) I am thrilled he made the RIGHT decision to let Mark Kirk make the run.
Now we all have to work together -- all Republicans, be they right or moderate -- and make sure we give Mark all the help we can.
I wanted him to stay in the 10th -- selfish reasons of course -- but I'll support him no matter what.
Baxter and Beau's Mom
Foklaes, what the hell are you talking about? I hope you can clear up what or who you're talking about. To win in 2010, and win we must, can we not go backward, pointing fingers and blaming anyone for what did or didn't happen. Fitzgerald hated DC, he had no idea what being a Senator would do to his life. Period. And I'm just not buying your take on what John McCain could have, could not have done last November. Deal with and live with reality, live with, deal with the fact that only if we all pull together we can help get Mark Kirk to be elected the next Senator from IL. Let's make a pact to forget our anger at who did what to whom, what vote made us madder than hell. This is a moment in time that just might give us a chance to win BIG for our side in 2010. Time is not on our side. We have a lot of work to do Can we agree that we're all going to pull this wagon in the same direction. I sure hope so.
Andy McKenna will not be the next Republican congressman from Il-10. Conservatives will stay home in retribution for what he did to Peter Fitzgerald. Mark can endorse him and give him a field organization but it will not make a difference. There are going to be much stronger candidates who aren't responsible for destroying the state gop and getting rid of our only GOP senator in 25 years.
Mark is in like flynn for senate. He will be watched heavily to make sure he doesn't leave the reservation, but I look forward to his swearing in 15 months from now.
FOKLAES
Between Dan Seals and Michael Bond, the Dems can have a primary between carpetbaggers.
Anybody know anything about this Elliott Richardson dude who parades as a Democrat with a proud Republican name? Just the name could make him trouble?
Check out www.illinoisreview.com
Apparently cadigan, who didn't have the nuts to get in even to the 11 way primary in 2000 is thinking about running which is a candidacy dead before it starts. Also another woman, Michelle Feldman who makes sitting on my ellen watching fox news look pleasant is considering although she looks awful and is a Karen May protege which means she'll be constantly tan and constantly dumb.
Both are 5th tier candidates and have no shot, though we want ALL democrats to run as hard as they possibly can. No reason lee goodman and hank perritt shouldn't get in. Chris Cohen, lauren beth gash, even footlik should think about another run. More blood, more pissed off dems, more campaign money wasted more chance we keep the seat.
Anon 12:40 - who the heck is Eric Wallace?
FOKLAES, you said that Rep. Kirk will be sworn into the U.S. Senate "15 months from now," but you were incorrect. 15 months from now will be Oct. 2010. He might be sworn in, 18 months from now, which will be Jan. 2011.
I agree with the last comment because Republicans should hope that many Democrats will run. State Sen. Terry Link was elected to a four-year term, in 2010, so he could run for Congress, without leaving his current seat.
Phil Collins
kirk announces next monday at 10:30 am he is running for senate
hat tip to Capfax and Lynn Sweet
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