RCP boosts Kirk’s odds to even
Thursday, Sep 22, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Real Clear Politics has moved the US Senate race here from “Leans Democratic” to “Tossup.” Tammy Duckworth has a 3.5-point lead in the RCP poll average.
* Meanwhile, from the Kirk campaign…
A Union County Judge has set a new court date for the Duckworth whistleblower retaliation lawsuit on October 6, 2016. After the plaintiffs rejected a June 24 settlement offer, no agreement has since been finalized and whether or not a trial will be scheduled before Election Day is uncertain.
“In June, Rep. Duckworth told the public that she wanted to get the truth out about the retaliation charges brought against her for silencing whistleblowers, yet she has continued to hide behind her government attorneys and campaign spokesperson in public while attacking the whistleblowers in private,” said Kirk For Senate campaign manager Kevin Artl. “Voters deserve to hear from Rep. Duckworth about how a convicted a felon ended up caring for veterans under her watch. Voters should hear why the whistleblowers who brought their concerns about veteran care to Duckworth’s attention were fired and threatened. Voters deserve answers from Duckworth.”
* The Trib explains…
The Downstate retaliation lawsuit against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth is back in court after the judge overseeing the case on Wednesday called for the two sides to discuss the matter with him in early October.
Last month, the Illinois attorney general’s office filed a motion to enforce a settlement it said had been agreed upon between Duckworth and two workers at the Anna Veterans’ home stemming from the congresswoman’s time years ago as head of the state’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
But the two employees have not submitted those settlement documents to the judge, court records show. So Union County Judge Mark Boie set a case management conference via telephone between him and the two sides to discuss the status of the case, according to the Union County clerk’s office. The huddle is set for the morning of Oct. 5.
* Related…
* Press release: What People Are Saying About Mark Kirk’s Latest Military Lie
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:05 pm:
FiveThirtyEight still favors Duckworth pretty strongly.
http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/senate/illinois/
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
Lots of work left for the Kirk Krew.
If we believe it’s a toss up and we also believe Hillary is up at a good clip, lots of work to get the flip on the ballot.
- so... - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
The fact that it’s this close is testament to what an awful candidate Duckworth is.
- doofusguy - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:46 pm:
seconding so’s opinion - although not sure about the poll either
- A guy - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
Kirk is always difficult to poll until the day after election day. His voters (not supporters) break that late.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:01 pm:
===Kirk is always difficult to poll until the day after election day. His voters (not supporters) break that late.===
Meh. He ran against a banker in a year when the most distrusted people in the country were bankers. I think it is still a good bet that Duckworth wins. Maybe not by 10 points, but maybe 4 or 5.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:15 pm:
“The fact that it’s this close is testament to what an awful candidate Duckworth is.”
Absolutely true.
@Ducky LaMoore:
He ran against a banker who was also the incumbent Illinois Treasurer who was President Obama’s guy.
Of course, the Broadway Bank was closed by Federal regulators days before election day which was a boost to Kirk.
- illini - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Just as in the presidential race we are being asked to chose between two flawed and compromised candidates.
The polling at this time, while not unexpected, only ads to the confusion and conflicting feelings many have this year.
Yet, I will go back to a statement I made on this site after the Primary - this is an election for Tammy to lose unless she runs a smart campaign. I am not certain she is succeeding as she should.
- Responsa - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
A guy– that was an interesting point you made @ 1:51 pm: In some races there does seem to be a clear distinction between “just voters” and “supporter voters”. Do either of the Il senate candidates have tons of firmly locked-in highly motivated supporters? I don’t see that at all. It appears to be more a case of “meh, I guess I have to vote for somebody”–and those decisions tend to be fickle, fluid and often made at the last minute.
- A guy - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
Responsa, I agree. A lot of GOP Precinct Captains and voters don’t care for Kirk. None of the Conservative GOP reliables like him at all. If it comes down to control of the Senate close to this election, they actually have a chance to have an impact from this Hard Blue state. They’ll plug their noses and vote for him. I suspect the Hard Ds will do the same for Tammy. There is a very little enthusiasm for either. If the AA vote in the city is lower than expected, Kirk wins. That’s his path.
- DoubleDown - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
A guy Kirk has to overcome his statements regarding Trump, I am part of the population in South East Will County which the majority is Republican will not vote for Kirk this cycle
- Hmm - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 5:47 pm:
DoubleDown, I do not understand the logic. Isn’t Kirk still more of a Republican than Duckworth? Isn’t having Republican control of the Senate important to you? If you choose to vote for Duckworth or to withhold your Senate vote, you are supporting Democrats takeover of the Senate.
- Ron - Thursday, Sep 22, 16 @ 10:55 pm:
Both are terrible. But can’t risk a Republican Senate with a chance of Trump. Duckworth it is.