Roll Call has an article [subscription required] up today on the frustration among some Republicans -- both at the national level and here in the Prairie State -- regarding Rep. Mark Kirk's indecisiveness on a potential U.S. Senate bid. A few quotes:
“I know the National Republican Senatorial Committee is very frustrated with Mark Kirk because he was being indecisive,” said a Republican source familiar with the situation. [...]
“The other story coming out of this is the mismanagement of Mark’s rollout,” [a separate Republican operative from Illinois] said. “The NRSC is in a bind because this was a recruitment victory for them. They were saying all along that Mark Kirk was who they wanted.” [...]
One county chairman from a rural part of the state requested a conference call with all of the state’s GOP county chairmen and the Congressman on Thursday. According to sources familiar with the conference call, numerous county chairmen throughout the state said they did not want to see Kirk run because of his vote for cap-and-trade legislation.
“I was not on the call, but my understanding was that it not go well,” an Illinois Republican said.
The article goes on to quote yet another anonymous operative asserting that the party will ultimately coalesce around Kirk. That should be fun to watch.
Comments
Susie (not verified) on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 10:29
With Kirk off to the Senate race, it looks like there will be lots of competition to replace him and this time the Democrats should take the seat with Beth Colson announcing she is running for reelection to the state legislature.
I hear three-term Highland Park City Councilman Jim Kirsch may enter the Democratic Congressional primary. He chairs the city’s finance committee and understands how to balance a budget in a recession without raising taxes. He’s done it.
More impressive, he runs a diversity job search program helping people find jobs. With his understanding of the need for jobs to fuel the economic recovery, he could be the right candidate for the job.
Come January, 2010, I think those of us who live in the 10th can count on an outstanding Democratic senator in the President’s former seat and a Democratic Congressman for the first time in a long time. Can’t wait.
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