Kirk Seeks Palin Endorsement One Year After Trashing Her

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk of Illinois is reportedly trying to get Sarah Plain to endorse his candidacy, which is not surprising considering the formidable sway the former Alaska governor seems to hold on the conservative movement.

But there's good reason to think Kirk will come up short in his efforts. And its not simply because the tea-party set feels he lacks the ideological bonafides.

Kirk was one of the first elected Republican officials to raise concerns about Palin's selection as John McCain's vice presidential candidate. Back in October 2008, the Illinois Republican told the Chicago Tribune that he "would have picked someone different." Asked later whether he thought Palin was qualified to be one heartbeat away from being commander in chief, Kirk replied: "Quite frankly, I don't know."

Quite a few other Republicans were distancing themselves from Palin around the same time. But Kirk was actually associated with the McCain campaign -- having bundled for the Senator -- making his remarks all the more of a distraction for the Arizona Republican.

Kirk, significantly, is using back channels to ask for Palin's endorsement. Illinois is not a conservative state, and to win the general election, a Republican would have to show some streaks of political moderation.

The emergence from the right of Patrick Hughes, a Chicago-area developer, as a primary opponent undoubtedly is convincing Kirk that he needs a bit more conservative cred. These days, Palin is the surest way to cover that flank.

But whether she is the forgiving and forgetting type remains to be seen.

UPDATE: Hughes responds to the news by mocking Kirk for trying to undergo a late-in-life conversion to conservatism.

"I believe Mark Kirk, who has consistently supported President Obama's legislative agenda, including cap and trade legislation, is quickly realizing that Republican Primary voters do not share his extreme views. In a desperate attempt to prove otherwise, he is seeking the endorsement of Sarah Palin, a true Reagan conservative, to help disguise his liberal voting record."

Comments

[lthuedk 1]

06:58 PM on 11/05/2009

Who wouldn't want the Pentecosta­l Princess's "help."

http://www­.light-to-­dark.com/w­itches_ton­gues_and_s­arah_palin­.html

[eyepatch]

05:45 PM on 11/05/2009

Oh yeah, Sarah Palin is gonna give
George W. Bush's local poster boy
a real big boost here on the north shore...

I hope Mr Kirk will enjoy his new life
in the private sector because many
conservati­ve women in this area
crossed over to vote for Obama
just because she (Sarah Palin)
was on the ticket!!! She will do the same hing
for Mark Kirk that she for Doug Hoffman
in the New York 23 congressio­nal district race!

This just shows that Mark Kirk is out
of touch with his district!

[Lakeview Greg]

02:43 PM on 11/05/2009

No doubt he trashed her last year to appease his district, or at least he will probably say that. He honestly thinks that an endorsemen­t from the winking one will help him in a general election?

He did it. He finally made Helicopter Jim Oberweis look sane by comparison­.

[Hammerofthor]

02:01 PM on 11/05/2009

Sarah Palin's phenomenal power, prestige, and political clout continues to grow. She cannot be ignored.

[eyepatch]

05:50 PM on 11/05/2009

She is 3 fries short of a Happy Meal!!!!!

And because she was on the ticket with John Mc Cain
a 3 time cancer survivor! she would have been
a heart beat away from being commender in chief

and no thinking american wanted to give her that
kind of authority.­........wh­ich is why Mc Cain lost!

Her 15 minutes of fame are just about up!

[mamala4]

07:03 PM on 11/05/2009

What the f are you on?

[dtlewis]

01:59 PM on 11/05/2009

Kirk is no more a liberal than I am the Easter Bunny. I live in this guy's district and have written him more times than I can recall and not once have I ever received a reply containing anything other than vague responses peppered with right-wing talking points. He's consistent­ly voted contrary to my socially liberal fiscally conservati­ve personal preference­s. He is after all, a politician so I am not the least bit surprised.

[naschkatze]

11:58 AM on 11/05/2009

After Tuesday night's election results (NY Congressio­nal), why on earth would he?

[larry278]

10:24 AM on 11/05/2009

Very much off thread: I've learned to stifle an attack of GERD when I glance at Sarah Palin's image. It's a part of being a socialist, radical, progressiv­e. It's simply a survival response & skill. I still avoid hearing Sarah's voice. I wait for a written transcript of Sara's words to hear what she said. I also use the comments HP posts on Ms Palin's words to find out what she was trying to say. Sarah constantly uses code words that make no sense, save to her supporters­.

[jalowe1957]

10:01 AM on 11/05/2009

Memo to Mark Kirk: Lie down with Sarah Palin, expect to contract a political STD.

[KIVPossum]

03:32 PM on 11/05/2009

Why do you think they make full body condoms?

[mamala4]

07:03 PM on 11/05/2009

He's single these days....ya never know!

[scorpioleidy]

09:33 AM on 11/05/2009

Oh, yes, please PLEASE endorse Kirk. He has no chance in he// of becoming our next senator here in IL, anyway - and this can only hasten the de..m.is.e of the GOP here in Illinois - and nationally­, too. Do it, Sarah, DO IT!!!

Go Giannoulia­s!

[Realist1965]

03:23 PM on 11/05/2009

Another member of the corrupt Chicago political machine who inherited his money and his standing. You get what you deserve if he gets in. The sheeple of IL have no clue how fleeced they have been by their blind support of political tools.

[RSKaz]

09:02 AM on 11/05/2009

Kirk out.

[scorpioleidy]

09:33 AM on 11/05/2009

Good one!

[VOTER]

08:46 AM on 11/05/2009

Does Kirk have a ticket for the Oprah Show?
Will his minions be seated in the studio's front rows?
Hmmm

Perhaps Oprah will invite Congressma­n Mark "Bush" Kirk onstage as a
surprise guest for Sarah ..........­..... hope so. LOL!

[justobserve]

08:36 AM on 11/05/2009

Shouldn't the Palins and the Limbaughs of the Republican­s be called "the Right Wing" of the Republican Party instead of "the Conservati­ve Party"? The Republican Party is supposed to be the Conservati­ve Party, is it not?

[scorpioleidy]

09:37 AM on 11/05/2009

You are correct! One & the same - just another sleight-of­-hand trick to confuse voters, re-frame their message & lure independen­ts.

[VOTER]

08:23 AM on 11/05/2009

http://www­.dailykos.­com/story/­2009/11/4/­800582/-IL­-Sen:-Kirk-sec­ret-memo-b­egs-Palin-­for-endors­ement

[mick7191]

07:45 AM on 11/05/2009

Maybe I'll go. Make a "Sarah Sux" sign.

[rain33]

07:37 AM on 11/05/2009

stuipd is as stuipd does meaning getting whalin palin's endorsemen­t is going to make more moderates leaving the party. you betcha!