IL 2016: Kirk is in

[Mr. Illini]

Quite early, but I guess he is trying to remove all doubt before ILGOP starts thinking about recruiting.

It will be another interesting one in the Land of Lincoln, that's for sure. He's got a tough battle ahead.

http://abc7chicago.com/politics/us-sen-mark-kirk-to-run-for-re-election-in-2016-/382589/

[Consciously Unconscious]

He's going to have to fight pretty hard if he wants to get reelected.  Especially if You-Know-Who is on the ballot and has coattails.

[Brittain33]

Kirk's going to get Blanched.

[Lief 🗽]

Hopefully Democrats spare no expense in defeating him in a landslide. Don't let him define himself as a moderate; he's not. He's been Mitch McConnell's lapdog since his inauguration.

[RogueBeaver]

Best of luck to him.

[Maxwell]

Kirk is probably not going to have an easy time, but he's run in very competitive races before, he's not going to be a pushover.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Hopefully Democrats spare no expense in defeating him in a landslide. Don't let him define himself as a moderate; he's not. He's been Mitch McConnell's lapdog since his inauguration.

If Kirk isn't a moderate, then neither is any Democrat and they frankly don't exist.

I hope he wins, and though he'll have a tough battle, it won't be as easy of a Dem pickup as people think.  He'll likely win the collar counties.

[Lief 🗽]

If Kirk isn't a moderate, then neither is any Democrat and they frankly don't exist.

That does seem to be the message that won Republicans the Senate, yes. Mark Pryor doesn't believe in evolution, opposes a minimum wage hike and votes against background checks; he was still cast as a liberal Obama Democrat.

[Rockefeller GOP]

If Kirk isn't a moderate, then neither is any Democrat and they frankly don't exist.

That does seem to be the message that won Republicans the Senate, yes. Mark Pryor doesn't believe in evolution, opposes a minimum wage hike and votes against background checks; he was still cast as a liberal Obama Democrat.

And those were obviously dirty tactics, and Pryor is clearly a very moderate Democrat, just sad Kirk is a moderate Republican.

[Ljube]

Exactly! I somewhat like Pryor. In fact, I like him more than Kirk.

[King]

If Kirk isn't a moderate, then neither is any Democrat and they frankly don't exist.

That does seem to be the message that won Republicans the Senate, yes. Mark Pryor doesn't believe in evolution, opposes a minimum wage hike and votes against background checks; he was still cast as a liberal Obama Democrat.

And those were obviously dirty tactics, and Pryor is clearly a very moderate Democrat, just sad Kirk is a moderate Republican.

Has Kirk even done anything in the Senate to earn such a title? I haven't heard a word about him outside of suffering a stroke.

[retromike22]

Somebody call Lisa Madigan!

[Lief 🗽]

Somebody call Lisa Madigan!

God I hope she doesn't chicken out again like in 2010.

[Panda Express]

It is important that the Dems field a strong candidate here. Kirk won't go down that easily but he is beatable.

[KCDem]

Kirk's going to get Blanched.

This. Revenge for Pryor and Blanche. Can't wait!

[IceSpear]

Yup, Kirk better get blanched. If red states are no longer willing to accept Democratic moderates, then vice versa needs to be true as well. Otherwise we're a permanent minority.

[KCDem]

Cue an avalanche of negative ads.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I don't know if Democrats will be able to take back the Senate in 2016, but Kirk is going down.

[IceSpear]

Cue an avalanche of negative ads.

Yeah, the Kochs started destroying the images of Pryor, Landrieu, Hagan, etc. essentially the moment after the 2012 election. No time to rest, guys. Learn from their success. Get those SuperPACs going. Hammer Kirk for lying about his military record and being a Boehner/McConnell toady.

[moderatevoter]

If I recall, the avalanche of ads against Pryor, Hagan, and Landrieu started in November 2013, right after the Obamacare rollout (and after the 2013 Gubernatorial Race in Virginia). I just remember in September/October 2013, Hagan was up by double-digits and at 51 against several Republicans, and within a month she was within the MOE against all of them.

[PAK Man]

Somebody call Lisa Madigan!

I don't see her running unless her father - State House Speaker Mike Madigan - steps down or retires.

[Rockefeller GOP]

If Kirk isn't a moderate, then neither is any Democrat and they frankly don't exist.

That does seem to be the message that won Republicans the Senate, yes. Mark Pryor doesn't believe in evolution, opposes a minimum wage hike and votes against background checks; he was still cast as a liberal Obama Democrat.

And those were obviously dirty tactics, and Pryor is clearly a very moderate Democrat, just sad Kirk is a moderate Republican.

Has Kirk even done anything in the Senate to earn such a title? I haven't heard a word about him outside of suffering a stroke.

I know he at least supports gay marriage and is pro-choice.  How many Democrats don't back gay marriage and are pro-life?

[KCDem]

If Kirk isn't a moderate, then neither is any Democrat and they frankly don't exist.

That does seem to be the message that won Republicans the Senate, yes. Mark Pryor doesn't believe in evolution, opposes a minimum wage hike and votes against background checks; he was still cast as a liberal Obama Democrat.

And those were obviously dirty tactics, and Pryor is clearly a very moderate Democrat, just sad Kirk is a moderate Republican.

Has Kirk even done anything in the Senate to earn such a title? I haven't heard a word about him outside of suffering a stroke.

I know he at least supports gay marriage and is pro-choice.  How many Democrats don't back gay marriage and are pro-life?

Not many anymore. Those who were got Blanched!

[JRP1994]

I will wholeheartedly endorse Mark Kirk for re-election.

[Nutmeg]

If Kirk isn't a moderate, then neither is any Democrat and they frankly don't exist.

That does seem to be the message that won Republicans the Senate, yes. Mark Pryor doesn't believe in evolution, opposes a minimum wage hike and votes against background checks; he was still cast as a liberal Obama Democrat.

And those were obviously dirty tactics, and Pryor is clearly a very moderate Democrat, just sad Kirk is a moderate Republican.

Has Kirk even done anything in the Senate to earn such a title? I haven't heard a word about him outside of suffering a stroke.

I know he at least supports gay marriage and is pro-choice.  How many Democrats don't back gay marriage and are pro-life?

Not many anymore. Those who were got Blanched!

In the Senate, just Manchin now. And you have McConnell trying to recruit him to switch caucuses.