With Lisa Madigan (D) now out of the Illinois Senate race, Politico reports that Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is calling leading donors and GOP operatives to tell them he plans to run.
"His decision to pursue a Senate campaign lands Republicans one of their leading recruits, and ensures that Illinois will be a major Senate battleground in 2010. Kirk has been one of the most politically-resilient members of the House, winning re-election to his Democratic-leaning suburban Chicago seat during two difficult election cycles for the GOP."