Senator John McCain and Congressman Mark Kirk gathered for a closed-door fundraiser and talk on foreign policy in Chicago Friday morning, where McCain said he is "feeling very good" about a Kirk win in Illinois.
"He just has to work hard," McCain said of Kirk. "His military experience will give him the edge."
The GOP fundraiser took place at the Union League Club, and as Kirk walked in he said, "My campaign is number one about the economy," NBC Chicago reports.
Kirk's GOP Senate nomination has brought some talk of Illinois being the next blue state to turn red--following Scott Brown's win in Massachusetts.
"Well, I think Scott Brown is certainly an incredible electoral feat," McCain said. "But you don't want to overlearn lessons from other states, Illinois is unique, I wouldn't put too much into it."
As for Kirk, he reiterated that every election is unique, but added "Illinois can send a message even more powerful than the one in Massachusetts."
Meanwhile, Kirk's opponent Alexi Giannoulias continues campaigning and is counting on Illinois, a notoriously Democrat-leaning state, to stay that way.
Watch video of McCain and Kirk talking to reporters in Chicago here: