Mark Kirk Denies Report He's Out Of Senate Race, Deciding Over Weekend

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk is denying a report that he has decided not to run for the Senate in part to avoid a primary with the Illinois Republican Party Chairman.

The Washington Post's Chris Cilliza reported Friday afternoon that Kirk would not make a Senate bid, despite signaling to party leaders just days ago that he was planning to run.

The North Shore Republican appeared set to enter the race after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced she would not run. A potential sticking point for Kirk, Cilliza reported, is his vote for the administration's climate change bill and a potential primary with state GOP chairman Andy McKenna:

[Kirk's decision] followed a meeting of the Illinois Republican congressional delegation on Thursday in which his colleagues refused to back Kirk in a primary against Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna due, in large part, to his vote in favor of President Barack Obama's climate change bill.

But Kirk told Roll Call later Friday that he has not made a final decision and is still discussing the race with McKenna. The pair plan to continue discussing the race over the weekend, he said.

The Post's Cilliza has updated his original story to say that while Kirk did tell "several" Republicans that he would not run, "there is an ongoing effort now to convince him to re-think that decision." That effort also reportedly entails convincing McKenna to not run.

McKenna indicated his plan to run for the Republican nomination earlier this week, though he has not declared.

Comments

[Bude]

I'm from Illinois. I wish he wasn't.

[MrJM]

To paraphrase our friends in the rap industry:

You Flip-Flop and You Don't Stop.
You Flop-Flip and You Don't Quit.

-- MrJM

[henrypapillon]

Outdo Sarah Palin, quit before you run for office!

[VOTER]

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz:
"Mark Kirk is a classic example of a Congressman who strikes a moderate tone in his
district, but votes with the Republican leadership 87% of the time."

AN 87% GOP VOTING RECORD IS NOT BEING A MODERATE!

From the 10th Dems:
" If you consider this (Kirk's) a good voting record, you're not alone - George W. Bush
probably would agree with you, and many Republicans members of Congress would too.
IF YOU ARE NOSTALGIC FOR BUSH AND CHENEY, THEN KIRK IS YOUR CANDIDATE."
(The caps for the above line are mine and not the 10th Dems. It is a great line and
I wanted to emphasize it.)
: )

[henrypapillon]

Duh ! That's what she's saying , Einstein! She's saying he talks a moderate story then votes something else!

[VOTER]

Double: "DUH! HUH?"

I simply stated TWO SOURCES saying the SAME THING TO EMPHASIZE Kirk's
erroneous claim of being a "moderate" Republican, which is
his claim to fame and used for his campaigns.

I apologize for confusing you.
Kirk would get it from the first reading.

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

Dark Smirk, Haven't you done enough to us already

[bluejean1951]

Doesn't really matter who the Rethugs put up here in Illinois...Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has already got almost 2 million in his war chest and will have the backing of the President for his seat, just as he had Obama's support when he ran for his current position. President Obama knows talent when he sees it and that is Giannoulias's ace in the hole...actual political talent.

[ekoorb]

They may be realizing that, paving the way for Alan Keyes to again be their candidate.

[PubWreck]

I say go for it Mark. Bring back John Porter from H & H, DC to be your campaign manager.

[harpen1]

After going to China and telling them that they should NOT trust America, would make him a questionable
choice

[VOTER]

YUP!

[HC4BO]

He's going to LOSE anyway ...

[chitown8]

He won't win Chicago or surrounding cook county. That is 49% of Illinois population.

Plus no one really likes the North Shore republicans.

[VOTER]

He, also, called supporters of Dan Seals, his Congressional opponent, "goons and crooks."
We, "goons and crooks" haven't forgotten.

[MrJM]

I hope that Kirk's health insurance covers chiropractic care after all this flip-flopping.

-- MrJM

[ekoorb]

His supporters spent a fortune in the last cycle to hold onto his House seat and almost as much in '06. I doubt they expected him to walk away and hand it to the Democrats. His "moderate" image would not withstand the scrutiny of a statewide race; it is beyond very doubtful that Illinois voters would send someone to caucus with the Senate Republicans.

[JRsNana]

Oh definitely I think Kirk should run. I mean really, a US Congressman has the good sense to go to China and tell them they can't trust his own country (now that a black man is in charge was the only part he left out is my guess) should most definitely be given an upgrade to his current position. Absolutely.

[boogiewoman]

I hope he doesn't try to sell his seat to China.

[AuntiepoppyCock]

NO NO NO NO NO N O NO NO NO. KIRK QUINN STROGER