Wow, Team Kirk keeps their cards close to their chest. NOW major news outlets are reporting that Kirk will NOT run for Senate.
I wanted to believe that Mark would not have decided on Senate without clearing it with me, so I was reluctant at first to believe the news that he had cast his lot for Senate ;-) . Now it appears that the rumors that he had made up his mind as of Lisa Madigan's announcement not to run for Senate were overblown.
We'll have to watch this for continuing developments. But maybe I won't have to rename the blog after all.
UPDATE: Now I read that Kirk is waiting for GOP Chairman Andy McKenna to commit NOT to run for Senate in order for Kirk to run. My head is spinning a bit. Roll Call seems to have the best handle on this developing situation.
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Mark Kirk = Proven winner, several wins in Democratic leaning district.
Andy McKenna = Finished 4th in a GOP primary for US Senate seat.
Shall the GOP in Illinois wake up for a second. Aren't we tired of losing?
McKenna already cost us this seat in 2004, now he wants to cost us it again? I think we should start a Team fund, buy McKenna a one way ticket to wasilla, and go drag mark into the race.
Plus this blog gets a lot more fun if we get to fight alexi for senate (who only raised 650k this quarter), and a free for all in the 10th.
FOKLAES
Read roll call - glad to see Judy Biggert is behind Kirk.
It must be frustrating for the congressional team to have to decide pick a winner or possibly have the wrath of McKenna on them.
Would love to see Kirk stay in the 10th - but he's the best GOP bet for the U.S. Senate.
TA, you're going to be darn busy over the next few weeks...
If it's true that Kirk has decided not to run, it's certainly his fault -- not merely for his despicable vote in favor of cap & tax, but primarily for his despicable, duplicitous explanation of that vote. Kirk & his defenders NEVER confronted this issue and certainly won't do so in their lamentations about this drop out and the criticisms he's encountered. An honest apology might have worked wonders for him.
Thoughtful, decisive Republican leadership on display again!
Why not vote for someone like this!
Tell me 5 people in the party who will support mckenna?The conservatives hate him, the moderates love mark, and cub fans wont be pleased with his tenure owning the team.
For the dems critiquing mark for being indecisive, Obama went national 4 times and dismissed running for POTUS, then left us with burris.
It's going to be a hot and heavy primary here on the GOP side for congress. There is already some serious serious national firepower lining up to get involved, like panzer tank division firepower to support certain contenders.
FOKLAES
Darrell,
I would bet money you have the Fox News logo burned into the corner of your t.v.
Keep up with your Hannity and Levin talking points, if you want to continue being in the minority in this state.
If you haven't noticed, this isn't Utah, Texas, Oklahoma...this is a BLUE state, in fact a heavily blue state. To win statewide here, as a member of the GOP, you need to embrace moderate values and not the mouthbreathers who Malkin and the rest of the crew want.
I love how the DSCC released a video yesterday depicting how Republican Kirk has been against Obama and yet people like Darrell just don't get it because of one vote. If you want to be the small tent party, keep it up.
I am going to call McKenna's office every day telling him he is a damned fool if he is going to stay in the Senate race.
Hell, Burris would beat McKenna.
Is there anyone on Kirk's staff with decent experience and military service who could pull off a Kirk-style 2000 campaign for his seat?
No, but there is a candidate set to emerge who is pretty much the kirk 2000 of 2010 who has a great organization in place and ready to roll out his team and message. Stay tuned.
Kirk is demonstrating the lowest form of political hubris. He is actually demanding that the Republican Party anoint him the GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. What ever happened to EARNING the nomination? What ever happened to bringing your case to the Republican voters of Illinois? This gambit has two big losers: Kirk and the GOP voters of Illinois. Previous candidates who went into the general election via anointment have gone down in flames and yet, GOP party leadership still somehow believe their own voters are incapable of choosing the better candidate. How soon you forget Peter Fitzgerald. And Kirk? Well, perhaps he's just not able to 'man-up' and present his case to state-wide voters. But don't misunderstand me; I'm not complaining. Not with all those voters in the 10th beginning to like the sound of "Congressman Bond."
Anon 10:00 what a CROCK. Don't know who you think you're talking about but it's not Mark Kirk. You partisan Democrats all try the same damn, lame things over and over. Kirk isn't waiting for anyone to annoint him or beg him to do anything now or in the future. You simply are clueless. But that's fine. You and your party will never get over the fact that out here you're just losers in each election. That much is evident. As for congressman Bond. Let's just call that the laugh for today. Now go back over there to your sicko buddy, Gill, make a play date with her cat.
Gee? I could have sworn Mark specifically stated he would not run for senate if there were any primary challengers. Did his spokesman lie to Politico? Is The Hill just spreading unfounded rumors? Your angry tone defines the nerve that was struck. Is that fear I smell?
It will be interesting to see what Mark does going forward. Amy Walter at national journal, the top senate race analyst in the country called out erik elk on friday as a jv communications hack. Mark's Senate rollout was clearly bungled last week and the fact that there is distance between McKenna and Mark is NOT a good thing. McKenna is the key to all the big money downtown that mark will need.
We aren't going to be dealing with jv catwomen, LBG, patrick 2 time loser mogge, pup, elisabeth 2 time loser smith, and lee goodmans brigade of soccer dad hippies. this is going to be the democrat party a-team, the west wing, and it's balls out.
As for senate race staffing, Eric Elk came to mark because he had been Rep. Crane's district director when he was upset by bean, the only gop incumbent to lose in 2004. We'll see if he has the talent to run the statewide bid-very doubtful considering mark was nearly upset in 06 and barely got by last year. McGovern is another candidate but he's been crushed in the topinka and oberweis races lately and seems to be a fading star not to mention he was with hastert when he lost congress. I suspect Doug O'Brien who is the best chief Mark ever had will return if he doesn't run for congress to run the campaign.
I love how you like to mis-state, try to twist,even distort what has been so clearly stated. Typical of your side of the aisle. What Mr. Kirk did say was that he would not want to split the party. So if Andy McKenna wants to run then it's a safe bet that Mark won't be a spoiler. You know you've heard that before so why not accept it as fact.
WOW Anon 11:47, you are off base and totally wrong. McKenna is hardly the key to downtown money. If that were true, why would the State GOP party be without funds? You are delusional if you think Andy McKenna would be out there helping bring campaign cash to the Kirk organization. This will come as a big shock to you, but it's a known fact, proven by Kirk's ability with his own team to raise pretty record-breaking cash all done without the help of the State Party.
As for trashing Eric Elk. Too bad you don't know this man. I don't give a rat's behind what anyone in DC has to say about the guy who helped steer the Kirk ship in 06 and again in 08. Eric Elk is a proven winner and the fact that you're trying to trash him tells me that you're damn jealous that he's not on your side of the aisle.
It's Sunday. A Cubs double header is about to begin. Why don't you misfits go and watch the games and stop bad mouthing Mark and his Chief of Staff. You sound like losers, big time losers. Go root for the Cubs.
Andy McKenna is a proven winner. He has has shown that he can win in a race where the voters are generally to the left. Time and time again he has defeated his opponents. Andy is clearly the savior for our state. His electric personality will win over the electorate. His long standing connections will bring in DC money like crazy.
Unfortunately, none of this is true. What is the argument that McKenna can with this seat in November 2010? All I hear from the reactionary right is that "at least he isn't Mark Kirk." The Democrats must be gleeful about Andy McKenna. Thanks, Andy.
Eric Elk is a really nice guy, a great die-hard Republican, and a force in the 10th. That said, he couldn't pull off the W for phil crane in 2004, getting upset by a liberal unemployed seriously indebted woman in one of the most conservative areas in america, IL-8. It was a national embarassment for the state party. These are facts, not opinions, as I said I'm a fan of him personally.
The quote from national journal was true, and Mark did get caught sleeping in 2006 although it's unclear whether that was a d.c. booboo or a district booboo.
Mark will need to amp up his game if he wants to win statewide. The only name I forgot was Liesl Hickey, a former kirk top aide, now with bono's plan to waste taxpayer dollars on africa. She was a pivotal player in senator fitzgerald's win in 1998 and might need to be brought out of mothballs to deliver some of the team of the only truly wonderful statewide office holder Illinois has had this decade.
I would be shocked to see Kirk drop out of the race for Senate, even if his numbers do not look favorable against a well funded Kennedy or Alexi. Even though TA and others may love him, it's pretty obvious that Kirk sees the writing on the wall. In 2010, IL-10 will be redrawn to include democratic areas from Melissa Bean's district now that she has no viable challenger for the near future and more conservative areas like Arlington Heights will be cut out. As such, it would be unlikely that any Republican will win IL-10 in 2010 or anytime soon after. For Kirk, his best chance at remaining in an elected office is to try for the vacant Senate seat and I am sure that his pollsters have told him so.
Until Next Time,
A Concerned Colonial
Aren't you listening, Colonel? Mr. Kirk has said it clearly and openly: if McKenna stays in the race for the Senate Mr. Kirk will give him a wide open berth with no Primary opposition. Sounds clear to me.
As for Mr. Kirk's ability to weather a storm, that's pretty clear as well. If you go back in time you'll see that some of his other votes have been very highly charged as well. He survived because he is a great fit for this district. No right winger and no far left loon will represent the 10th. As for what happens when the new map is drawn, who knows. Never underestimate Mark Kirk and never count him out. He's a proven winner, has earned the respect of voters here, that's obvious by his presence in office. My crystal ball has disappeared so I can't predict a damn thing. Neither can you.
Anon 1:18...Check your "facts" but I believe Eric Elk was already with Kirk before the 2004 election. Maybe that's why Crane lost?
senate will be a whole new ball game. Mark is going to get hit from the right for the first time since he dispatched John Cox, he's going to face a white house and national democratic ground game like none other with thousands of princess nudelman's swimming up to vote.
Thankfully we are prepared for pain in thy ellen's, although this will bring out people who are better educated and professional pests as opposed to amateur political rodents.
I don't know how this blog will go forward. The press clips are going to be 10 times what they are now and each day will have multiple new stories. This of course is leaving out the congressional race, matt murphy's race for governor, and fightin tim strattons climb to the top. Perhaps King Louis can be recruited to cover the 10th and the local stuff, or backyard conservative to serve as a deputy TA editor, as long as she promises to praise mettawa and bash catwoman.
FOKLAES
I think if we're honest about the past we'd recall that Phil Crane had LONG abandoned being the Congressman from the 8th District. Not in the literal sense, but sure as hell on a day to day basis. His bouts with alcohol and his own lack of personal responsibility can't be the fault of anyone on his staff. The demise of Phil Crane belongs squarely with what he failed to do in the execution of his job as the Congressman. Eric Elk should not be blamed for what happened to his former boss. It's all about personal responsibility and when Crane was serving his district, doing what he did best for a lot of years, he was re-elected. When it was clear that he no longer cared, the voters did what voters do best - said bye bye. Now can we focus on the future?
Right on, Foklaes. A Senate run will be grueling, something I don't think any of us can envision if it happens. But if it does, I hope that all of us will get behind Mark, get out and help win this Senate seat in what would be one of the most closely watched, high energy campaigns in the country. Bet on that one.
As for the enormously twisted Ellen Beth Gill, she's going to be left in her own dust if this does happen for Mark Kirk. She thinks she's a witty writer. Gag me.
It's big time for everyone if this actually does become the place to be and the seat to watch as we move toward November of 2010. While I don't think there's a similarity to Mark Kirk's first run for office in 2000, what I do see, should he decide to pull the trigger, is a man on a mission. I look forward to helping him reach the goal line with a record breaking finish. One for our side.
Has anyone asked why Andy McKenna wants to run for the Senate?
Was he trying to push MSK to make a decision, is he trying to placate the people who are upset with MSK for his vote, or is his ego so big he thinks he can actually win?
He's a nice man but he's no Mark Kirk and he of all people should realize that.
Pull out Andy and give us a fighting chance to take that seat and do everything you can to help Mark win!
The washington post reported Mckenna is out and mark is running. Biggerts chief of staff told politico mark announces july 20. I like the idea of an announcement at fort sheridan-military background, mark's done some enviornmental stuff there, not posh like winnetka, veterans standing behind mark.
As for this blog, I reccomend TA take over covering the senate race, king louis to cover local races and backyard conservative or baxters mom to cover 10th related issues. We all of course will participate in monitoring catwoman truthiness.
FOKLAES
Foklaes, I am all in favor of you being the watchperson over the vicious attacks by Gill and by Steve Sheffey. They've already started the battle against Mark and it's going to take a very keen eye and a swift response to what you know is coming from these dishonest and more than twisted people. I also like your idea of TA covering the Senate race and one of the other folks taking on what's breaking here in the 10th.
I love the thought of Senator Mark Kirk. Nobody will agree with everything he has done, but there is clearly nobody better able to capture the hearts and minds of voters in IL than this super guy - our current Congressman. Let's all pull together and make this become reality.
McKenna put out a statement this morning stating that he would back off if Kirk ran for U.S. Senate.
Louis G. Atsaves
McKenna just put out a statement on twitter say he's out. the proper term is catwoman, pain in the ellen, out my ellen, or i sat on my ellen while I watched entourage last night.
Steve Sheffey is in a class by himself. Multiple local democrats have complained to me that they are sickened by his anti-Mark Kirk emails, which they see as over the top and disgusting. He's a democrat operative that really never had a career in the big leagues and so resorts to nastiness and dirty tricks. I hope the kirk for senate operation will have a solid war room going to destroy those attacks. He's written the same, Kirk is bad for jews because he's a shill for evangelical christians that want to take away your deerfield high school daughters right to abortion for 10 years in that rag they put out.
Team should be editor of the blog and be senate follower, backyard conservative should follow the race to keep mark's seat and king louis should cover the local scene.
FOKLAES
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