After some unfortunate remarks earlier this week, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) told the Chicago Sun-Times he won’t be talking about race or ethnicity in the future.
Said Kirk: “I would say that whenever a targeted member talks about race or ethnicity, it is impossible for him to get it right. So I’ll leave it at that.”
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IK) told the Peoria Journal Star that his constituents try to avoid African-American neighborhoods.
Said Kirk: “I want to make sure we have elected people constantly looking at helping the African-American community. With this state and all of its resources, we could sponsor a whole new class of potential innovators like George Washington Carver and eventually have a class of African-American billionaires. That would really adjust income differentials and make the diversity and outcome of the state much better so that the black community is not the one we drive faster through.”
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will announce a 2016 Senate bid likely on Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
“She is aiming to win the Democratic nomination to run against Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill.
Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) told the Chicago Sun Times that Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), “recovering from a stroke, has to show voters he is physically ‘capable’ to keep doing the job.”
Said Walsh: “I think that myself and any Republican voter in this state has questions about Sen. Kirk’s health, similar to if he were running a business and we’d want to know that he’s in condition to run that business… I think it’s up to him to provide whatever medical information he needs to provide to show that he’s capable of doing this job, that’s all.”
Walsh also said he’s mulling a Republican primary challenge of Kirk.
Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) told The Hill that he is considering a challenge to Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL).
Said Walsh: “I am very seriously considering challenging him in a primary. Mark Kirk has got to be challenged.”
“The one-term lawmaker isn’t backing off his inflammatory comments that made him a conservative star, though, as he weighs a quixotic comeback bid… Walsh has since built a local following in the Chicago area with his conservative talk show — and if anything has upped the controversy level with a string of racially charged comments in the past few years.”
Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) and his ex-wife Ann asked the Chicago Sun Times if they could sit down and talk about their 1996 divorce.
Foster has begun weighing a run for Sen Mark Kirk’s (R-IL) seat in 2016 and he wants to pre-empt questions about his ex-wife’s divorce filing in which she requested he move out of the marital residence because “the Defendant has pushed, shoved, and caused physical abuse and emotional harm of the Plaintiff, thereby putting her in fear for not only herself but also for the parties (sic) minor children.”
Ann Foster “said she did not read it before signing and told the judge the allegation was absolutely not true, that there was never abuse of any kind.”
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) told Roll Call that she is seriously considering challenging vulnerable Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) in 2016.
Said Duckworth: “My baby just turned eight weeks old. The first two months with her coming early were 110 percent focused on her. I’m getting ready to get back to work in a few weeks, and I’m starting to listen to folks throughout the state, listen to Illinois families about the challenges they’re facing, listen to my friends and closest advisers and taking a real serious look at 2016.”
Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) “has been feeling out major Illinois Democratic donors about a 2016 run against Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL),” the Chicago Sun Times reports.
“Foster, who represents the west suburban 11th Congressional District, is putting himself in play as Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) — who could have the nomination for the asking — also considers a run. The two centrist Democrats would share much of the same high-end Illinois Democratic donor base.”
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) says Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) “has a bright future ahead of her” — as long as she doesn’t get in his way in 2016, The Hill reports.
Said Kirk: “She has a very bright future ahead of her. After only one term … you know, when you run for the Senate, you have to give up your congressional seat. If she gives up her congressional seat and loses against me, that’s a very sad ending to a bright career.”
He added: “To fight and lose a Senate race against Kirk is a terrible start to a career.”
[speech_bubble type=”std” subtype=”a” icon=”pwdome.jpg” name=””]It’s touching that Kirk is so concerned for Duckworth’s career. [/speech_bubble]
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is “interested, open and curious” about a 2016 Senate run against Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) but for now is focused on the impending birth of her daughter, who is due any day, the Chicago Sun Times reports.
“Duckworth is the only Democrat in Illinois who can cut into the enormous goodwill Kirk has stockpiled as a result of a massive stroke that kept him out of the Senate for almost a year. Both Duckworth and Kirk use wheelchairs and canes.”
“No frickin’ way am I retiring. With all this rehab, for me just to walk was a huge effort. I had to re-learn how to walk again after the stroke. And all the rehab and all the effort shows the mental determination times 10 to keep serving.”
— Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), quoted by Roll Call, on speculation he might not run for re-election in 2016.
Greg Hinz is “hearing all kinds of talk in Democratic circles that the woman whom many have considered the strongest potential challenger” to Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) “now is leaning heavily against a contest.”
“Ms. Duckworth is about to be a mother. She’s expecting a daughter next month, and party insiders say that won’t leave much room for hopping around the state to campaign for the Senate — especially when she’d have to give up a safe House seat to do so.”
“That would leave an open field, and it could be pretty competitive. Among potential candidates on my list: U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, who has a nicely nonpartisan style about him; state Sen. Kwame Raoul, a fast-rising Chicagoan who represents some of Barack Obama’s old state Senate district; and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who passed on earlier chances to run for higher office but still pulled in 59 percent of the vote last week. And, Gov. Pat Quinn.”
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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