Mark Kirk Still Quiet About 2010 Election Plans

The man Illinois Republicans consider their best hope to win a senate seat or the governor's mansion is still not sure what office he'll run for in 2010.

At a press conference to announce legislation proposing stronger penalties for dealing potent marijuana, Kirk said he has been raising funds for a "big campaign" but declined to say which one, the AP reports:

Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk is still deciding what office he wants to run for in next year's election.

Is it U.S. senator, governor or a sixth term in Congress?

Kirk wasn't saying Monday. But he said he's raising money for a "big campaign." He wants to assess next year's races before deciding.

The northern Illinois congressman said the state can do better than Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, both Democrats.

Neither Quinn nor Burris were elected to their posts. Quinn replaced ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Burris replaced President Barack Obama. Burris was appointed by Blagojevich before lawmakers removed him from office.

Newly divorced, Kirk is serving his fifth term in Congress from Illinois' 10th Congressional District.

Crain's Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz pressed Kirk to bypass the senate race and turn his attention to Springfield:

Sometimes in politics, you've got to play on the field where your game works best, even if it isn't the field you know best. If Mark Kirk wants to move up right now, his best play is for governor, not the Senate.

Kirk's unfamiliarity with Springfield-- and lack of culpability in creating its current mess-- are assets, Hinz argues.

In other 2010 election news, former Transportation Security Administration official Justin Oberman has declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor. Oberman briefly ran in the special election Democratic primary to replace Rahm Emanuel in Congress. He is the son of former 43rd Ward Alderman Marty Oberman.

Comments

[macohmz]

It figures he'd want a draconian law for pot smokers. Illinois, which is one of the most politically corrupt states in the country, always passes some of the most harshest laws in the country on its citizens.
The country doesn't need another militaristic, greedy-as-hell, throw-back-to-the-60s neanderthal in office. Not in Illinois. Not anywhere.

[Bude]

Kirk's been smoking some of that high powered weed himself.

[VOTER]

Mark Kirk, IL Republicans Best Choice for the Senate, Governorship or
another run for Congress, shows how their "Last Best Hope" is really
NO HOPE AT ALL.

10 District Voter

[mamala4]

Let's hope he remains quiet for the next 20 years....

[Bude]

I'm from Illinois. I embarrassed,.........................................again.

[clearwaterclearmind]

what a sick sadist. to push legislation that would mandate a 25 year sentence for first time possession of strong pot (and guess who gets to decide what "strong" is) is criminally insane. vote no on kirk.

[BushBites]

I'm sure he's first making sure those divorce records will never see the light of day.

[mamala4]

You got it...we'll never see them...

[jsgaetano]

Mark Kirk is a traitor to America. Just recently, he went on a trip to China with the sole purpose of undermining the US economy there.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/rep-mark-kirk-r-il-i-told-china-not-to-believe-us-budget-numbers.php

Yet another "Party First, Country Last" conservative. America is kicking his kind to the curb.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

I can't wait until he runs for whatever and that little antic gets wider play. That recent divorce should endear him to the downstate voters, too.