[GonzoGOP]

If the Republicans of Illinois wanted a conservative why didn’t they nominate one

There were three conservatives, two thieves and Kirk on the ballot in the Primary. They wasted verbal ammo fighting among themselves while Kirk used his overwhelming advantage in money to flood the airwaves with adds. He had the big name recognition and the others all looked like also rans. I have always said that the greatest failure of the Tea Party in Illinois was not convincing two of the conservatives to get out of the race. It would still have been an up hill fight, but at least we could have forced Kirk into defending his positions in the debates. To lose because the people you supported were beaten is one thing. To lose because the people you support self destructed is a lot harder to live with.

[PhilCollins]

Rep. Kirk (my congressman) won the primary because he was endorsed by many moderate GOP leaders, including members of the IL GOP State Central Committee and county party chairmen. Too many republican primary voters listened to those leaders and didn’t research the candidates. If they researched the candidates, they would have known that Kirk is more liberal than many Democrats.