2010 Race Spotlight: ILLINOIS

Many people believe conservatives will win a number of Senate races next year but few realize that we could also win the very Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president.

The race to fill the open seat in Illinois will likely be a contest between Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and the winner of the GOP primary between U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk and businessman Patrick Hughes. The Republican primary is February 2, 2010.

The Republican establishment in Washington has lined up solidly behind Kirk who for months has been seen as the best chance for a GOP victory. But a new poll shows Democrat Giannoulias with a 3-point advantage over Kirk. Political insiders still believe Kirk, who reported $2.3 million cash on hand at the end of September, still has the best chance of winning the seat for Republicans. But political insiders have been wrong before.

In 1998 for example, there was a competitive primary in Illinois. The GOP establishment rallied behind moderate Loleta Didrickson, the highest ranking Republican woman in the history of the state. She was defeated in the primary by Peter Fitzgerald, who everyone described as too conservative to win. Fitzgerald went on to defeat the incumbent, Senator Mosely-Braun.

Patrick Hughes is a newcomer to Illinois politics and has a steep hill to climb. According to a Nov. 7 story in the The Hill newspaper:

It’s not yet clear whether Hughes will have what it takes to upset Kirk, but the congressman’s recent tacking to the right on issues like cap and trade make it clear that he’s aware of his right flank. And this week’s revelation that Kirk has been lobbying for Sarah Palin’s endorsement is the clincher. Hughes, a developer, is fighting a battle (a la Rubio) to prove that he has a chance against a well-funded frontrunner, and getting over that hump will be key to his chances.

Should conservatives take a chance on Patrick Hughes or stick with the better-known Mark Kirk? You decide. Here are several links related to the race. Check them out and then vote in our Illinois Senate poll.

• Mark Kirk Website (kirkforsenate.com)


• Patrick Hughes Website (patrickhughesforsenate.com)


• WGIL: Hughes: "I'm the Real Republican in the U.S. Senate Race" (11/07/09)


• Time Magazine: 10 Races that have Republicans Worried for 2010 (11/05/09)


• MSNBC First Read: Kirk Courts Sarah Palin (11/05/09)


• The Hill: Poll Shows Democrat Would Defeat Kirk (11/02/09)


• The Hill: Ditka Disputes Candidate's Endorsement Claim (10/22/09)

Illinois Senate Poll

This online poll will close on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. Category: Uncategorized   Tags: None

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