Can Republicans Take Obama's Senate Seat In 2010? (With Cap-and-Trator Mark Kirk?)

Real Clear Politics ^ | August 19, 2010 | Sean Trende

[WhiteCastle]

The waiting game is finally over. On July 9, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that she would run for re-election as Attorney General, and would not run for the Senate seat previously held by Barack Obama and being vacated by his placeholder successor, Roland Burris. Businessman and RFK son Chris Kennedy has chosen not to run for Senate, though he may seek the Governor’s mansion.

[WhiteCastle]

One of the eight GOP cap-and-traitors on Waxman-Markey

[Concho]

If the GOP wakes up and takes back control of the congress in 2010, Obama is effectively neutered. If the GOP doesnt wake up, there is no excuse to bitch about it in here.

[EricT.]

Just what we need: another Vichy Republican.

[Proud2BeRight]

Kirk the RINO will not receive a lot of conservative’s votes.

[Shaka]

An (R) by the winner RINo or not, would be a nice mental battering ram against the Joker (sic).

[BobinIL]

The golden daughter Lisa Madigan has her sights set on another prize. She intends to run for Governor. I will swich parties to vote against her because the deciding elections in Illinois occur in the Democratic primaries.

[Izzy Dunne]

Maybe Alan Keyes can go for it again.

< /sarc>

[11th Commandment]

I predict that the GOP will not do well in the Senate races in 2010 due to a fault strategy on the leadership. They have rushed in support "names" over canidates that better fit the ground swell in this country of common sense and adhering to the constitution. Even though Giannoulias is a crock and tied to 0bama, he can still win since the RATS will blindly vote for him and the conservative base will not blindly pull the Republican lever.

The same thing is happening here in Missouri as the elitist have rushed in to support Roy Blunt, Mr. Insider and Cash for Clunker supporter. They have squeezed out any chance a reformer such as Steelman will run. Roy will lose the seat for the GOP: +1 for the RATS.

[fieldmarshaldj]

We’re not in a good position with the 2010 Senate races to start. Many Dems aren’t facing serious challengers, some of the candidates we have are underfunded, or are NOT particularly motivating individuals, non-Conservatives, etc. (the Blunt example in MO). We also have to defend GOP retirees while the Dems aren’t leaving (opposite to 1994, when the Dems were fleeing). Best case scenario, we may regain 2 or 3 seats, but the caucus itself may be even more liberal than it is now, which would be a disaster. There’s virtually no way the GOP can regain the Senate, barring a drastic reconfiguring of the situation (surprise deaths or sudden retirements on the Dem side).

My analysis of all the races last week:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2308206/posts?page=58#58

[BillyBoy]

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008

Freepmail me to get ON or OFF this list.

MARK KIRK TRUTH FILE
JUST SAY NO TO SOCIALISM

" "The GREENEST candidate in the race... better than Barack Obama!"
- Carol Calabresa/The Sierra Club, 2008
" The strength of our campaign remains the Democrats"
- Mark Kirk, 2008