Chicago Sun says Kirk is jumping in

[Holmes]

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) is mulling jumping in the 2010 Illinois Senate race.

Developing ...

House pick-up...

[Lunar]

how the hell is "mulling" mean "he's jumping in?"


He's been mulling for a while now.  He's leaning towards the Senate over taking on Madigan

[Franzl]

I would seriously consider voting for Kirk.

[Lunar]

I would seriously consider voting for Kirk.

And he's going to seriously spend 20 million dollars to help you decide

[Lunar]

Ok, I checked, and Miller says his sources confirm that Kirk is "poised to jump into the race"

This + Bunning retiring makes today a very good day for John Cornyn and GOP prospects in 2010

[Franzl]

Didn't you say you were a Kirk fan, Lunar?

Seem to remember something like that.

[Sam Spade]

Kirk always seemed like a much better fit for Washington than the statehouse to me.  

[Badger]

As long as Burris doesn't pull a miracle and win the nomination, and the rumors about Alexi G's finances don't prove Blagovichian, Obama's old seat ain't going Republican anytime soon.

[Lunar]

Didn't you say you were a Kirk fan, Lunar?

Seem to remember something like that.

To an extent, but I've been following Alexi's career longer and I can forgive his family's shady loans and for losing 38% of the college investments in Bright Start or what have you.  Also, I might be doing a bit of internet work for his campaign so I'm biased.

I enjoy socially liberal, young, politically talented Republicans ... and to have one that's clean as he appears to be in Illinois is semi impressive.  I'd support him in a heartbeat over anyone in the Madigan family.  Also Kirk is my girlfriend's representative so we only have two degrees of separation.




 And it's always nice to have more people in Washington who attended the London School of Economics

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Yet another moderate "RINO" making up for "conservative" losses elsewhere

[Lunar]

Yet another moderate "RINO" making up for "conservative" losses elsewhere

He's not that moderate economically, and he can outspend the CfG 8:1 if they try

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Good, so we keep the seat and get a free House seat to boot.

[Rowan]

Did anyone post the PPP poll yet?

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_IL_430.pdf

[Lunar]

Good, so we keep the seat

It's not necessarily that easy.  It's a serious challenge from a socially liberal, great-fundraiser, who has proven abilities to win in Democratic Chicago suburbs

It gives the Democrats another seat to defend.  It's never good to be on the defense.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Brittain once compared Mark Kirk to another Mark: Mark Kennedy. I think the comparison fits (not in that they're similar candidates, just the hyping of both.)

[Lunar]

Obviously he still has an uphill battle to fight, but it's always good to land the top recruit in the state to give yourself a chance.

Like I said, it's never good to be on the defense.  The Democrats needed to be fighting uphill battles in Kansas, Arizona, and Iowa themselves to be in the optimum position.

[Torie]

Ok, I checked, and Miller says his sources confirm that Kirk is "poised to jump into the race"

This + Bunning retiring makes today a very good day for John Cornyn and GOP prospects in 2010

Bunning is gone?  Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lunar]

It was the headline on Politico a while ago, check out the Kentucky thread though.

The challenger who said he would never run unless Bunning retired has formed an exploratory committee to raise funds "just in case" and some DC operatives are saying that Bunning is going to retire.  It's not guaranteed, but it's very likely.

Anyway, today is the best day for the NRSC in the past.... six years?

[Ronnie]

Ok, I checked, and Miller says his sources confirm that Kirk is "poised to jump into the race"

This + Bunning retiring makes today a very good day for John Cornyn and GOP prospects in 2010

Bunning is gone?  Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOSH THIS MADE MY DAY.

THANK YOU, JIM BUNNING.

[Lunar]

I HAVE A KENTUCKY THREAD FOLKS

[Torie]

It was the headline on Politico a while ago, check out the Kentucky thread though.

The challenger who said he would never run unless Bunning retired has formed an exploratory committee to raise funds "just in case" and some DC operatives are saying that Bunning is going to retire.  It's not guaranteed, but it's very likely.

Anyway, today is the best day for the NRSC in the past.... six years?

It seems like forever.

[muon2]

Kirk has been mulling this for weeks. He initially was expected to decide by the end of April. There has been considerable pressure from some in the GOP for him to go for Gov. Those who are urging that see it as the best chance to split control for a chance at the 2010 map. That view is certainly not universal among the IL GOP, so its up to Kirk.

[Lunar]

Kirk has been mulling this for weeks. He initially was expected to decide by the end of April. There has been considerable pressure from some in the GOP for him to go for Gov. Those who are urging that see it as the best chance to split control for a chance at the 2010 map. That view is certainly not universal among the IL GOP, so its up to Kirk.

The linked article was obv copied from SwingStateProject and not an accurate headline summing up the substance, but, as I said, I checked Rich Miller's blog and he says he has sources confirming Kirk is "poised" to run... which basically convinces me since nothing unexpected is likely to occur on the Democratic or Republican slates of candidates

[bgwah]

Hmm. Worrisome.

[Tender Branson]

This seat is probably safe for the Greek guy who's name I can't pronounce ...