Michelle Obama defeats Sen. Kirk by double-digits in 2016 Hillary-style match

[Tender Branson]

Other notes from Illinois:

- If Michelle Obama decided she wanted to follow the Hillary Clinton route once her husband leaves office in 2016 and go to the Senate, she'd have the upper hand on Mark Kirk. She leads him 51/40 in a hypothetical head to head. Kirk's approval numbers are ok with 34% of voters approving of him to 19% who disapprove. But those numbers are no match for the first lady, who's seen positively by 60% of voters to 33% with a negative one.

-President Obama's home state approval rating is 57% with 41% of voters disapproving- those are solid numbers but he can't match Michelle's popularity.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/12/illinois-and-new-jersey-miscellany.html

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Nope, Michelle is gonna defer to Lisa Madigan on this one. But, it does say something about Kirk, since the stroke, he appears to Illinois as being not up to the job.

[RogueBeaver]

Nope, Michelle is gonna defer to Lisa Madigan on this one.

Unless she's more interested in the Mansion, strikes me as more of an executive.

[Maxwell]

Why does 47% of the population of Illinois not know who Mark Kirk is?

[traininthedistance]

I thought Michelle Obama had no interest in electoral politics?

[RogueBeaver]

I thought Michelle Obama had no interest in electoral politics?

She doesn't. I expect the Dems will find a Congresscritter.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I thought Michelle Obama had no interest in electoral politics?

She doesn't.  Polls 4 years out are meaningless.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Toomey, Kirk (Madigan) and ron Johnson are the weak lnks in 2016. If we do manage to lose the majority in 14, we will take it back in 2016. People don't know who Mark Kirk is because he was the defacto candidate in 2010. Only to stop Jesse L Jackson from becoming Senator and possible a presidential contender. Once Blago fumbled the Senate bid, the GOP was favored.

[RogueBeaver]

It also had something to do with the candidate.

[Keystone Phil]

The woman has made it absolutely clear she wants nothing to do with politics and they continue to include her in these polls. I guess it's fun to see the result but it means nothing outside of that.

Toomey, Kirk (Madigan) and ron Johnson are the weak lnks in 2016. If we do manage to lose the majority in 14, we will take it back in 2016. People don't know who Mark Kirk is because he was the defacto candidate in 2010. Only to stop Jesse L Jackson from becoming Senator and possible a presidential contender. Once Blago fumbled the Senate bid, the GOP was favored.

Things look good for you guys on paper...four years in advance. Please, for your own good, stop thinking 2016 would be some slam dunk.

[Vosem]

Toomey, Kirk (Madigan) and ron Johnson are the weak lnks in 2016. If we do manage to lose the majority in 14, we will take it back in 2016. People don't know who Mark Kirk is because he was the defacto candidate in 2010. Only to stop Jesse L Jackson from becoming Senator and possible a presidential contender. Once Blago fumbled the Senate bid, the GOP was favored.

I believe Keystone Phil's shown us polls showing how popular Pat Toomey is, and Ron Johnson ran a very solid campaign in 2010. Really, when talking about vulnerability in 2016 Kirk is in a league of his own. Though there are plenty in that league in 2014 (Johnson, Rockefeller, Landrieu, Begich...)

[Eraserhead]

Probably not gonna happen but it'd be great if she did run.

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

Toomey, Kirk (Madigan) and ron Johnson are the weak lnks in 2016. If we do manage to lose the majority in 14, we will take it back in 2016. People don't know who Mark Kirk is because he was the defacto candidate in 2010. Only to stop Jesse L Jackson from becoming Senator and possible a presidential contender. Once Blago fumbled the Senate bid, the GOP was favored.

I believe Keystone Phil's shown us polls showing how popular Pat Toomey is, and Ron Johnson ran a very solid campaign in 2010. Really, when talking about vulnerability in 2016 Kirk is in a league of his own. Though there are plenty in that league in 2014 (Johnson, Rockefeller, Landrieu, Begich...)

Johnson ran a solid campaign in 2010, but it was 2010, he won relatively narrowly, and he's acquitted himself as an absolute boor since. Toomey, though, probably is genuinely in considerably better shape than the division that stretches between his positions and those of his state would suggest.

[The Mikado]

Maybe the President will decide that he wants his old seat back for himself.  Wouldn't be the first time (Andrew Johnson). 

[CountryRoads]

I only care about Toomey. He's a good man, and a good Senator. I like Kirk too, but he's pro-choice, so if he loses I'll be sad, but not heartbroken.

I don't like Ron Johnson, so I don't care if he wins.

[freepcrusher]

But, it does say something about Kirk, since the stroke, he appears to Illinois as being not up to the job.

shouldn't that garner him a sympathy vote sort of like Johnson (SD) in 2008?

[SPC]

Maybe the President will decide that he wants his old seat back for himself.  Wouldn't be the first time (Andrew Johnson). 

And then President Biden can beat President Harrison's record for shortest term.