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* UPDATED x1 * Rate Mark Kirk’s new online ad

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* There is some chatter behind the scenes, but it doesn’t mean anything as long as Sen. Kirk is moving forward with his campaign. And he’s definitely doing that…

Pssst!

Sneed hears rumbles top Republican Party stalwarts are worried U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who suffered a massive stroke in 2012, may not have the energy to win re-election.

“The last race for the U.S. Senate seat between Kirk and Dem senatorial hopeful Alexi Giannoulias was a bruiser, and the next race will be heavily funded by the Democratic Party,” said a top GOP source. (U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. and attorney/former Urban League President Andrea Zopp have entered the Dem primary fray.)

Kirk, who had to learn how to walk again and has struggled with speech issues, has dealt recently with verbal gaffes, one of which required him to offer a one-line apology recently after he was caught on a hot microphone referring to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a bachelor, as a “bro with no ho.”

More recently, Kirk’s performance while questioning Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief Richard Cordray at a Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee hearing was described as “disastrous” by a top Republican insider who asked not to be identified.

* From the Kirk campaign…

The Kirk For Senate campaign launched a new ad, titled “Headed to Trial”, in response to Rep. Duckworth’s second negative ad in just the last two months. The new video highlights Rep. Duckworth’s upcoming trial as the motive behind her torrent of negative advertising aimed at Senator Kirk.

“Next month, Rep. Duckworth and her taxpayer-paid legal team are scheduled to be in court facing charges that Duckworth violated the state ethics act by attempting to silence whistleblowers during her time as Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Kevin Artl, campaign manager for Kirk for Senate. “The launch of the negative ad by Rep. Duckworth is meant to distract the public from her own mounting legal troubles as yet another member of the Blagojevich administration is headed to trial.”

Background on the upcoming Duckworth Trial:

In 2009, two employees of the Anna Veterans Home sued Tammy Duckworth as an individual in Union County Circuit Court for violations of the State of Illinois Officials and Employees’ Ethics Act. Duckworth is accused of silencing a whistleblower, wrongful termination, humiliating an employee and approving inaccurate performance reviews that rendered the plaintiffs ineligible for bonuses or raises. The first pre-trial hearing of this case is set for August 4, 2015.

* It’s online only for now. Rate it…

*** UPDATE *** Press release…

“Words have ceased to have meaning now that Mark Kirk has called another campaign ‘desperate.’ Let’s consider just the past week: in response to his over-the-top reaction to the Iran nuclear agreement, Kirk was called the ‘love child of Ted Cruz and Michele Bachman’ in one editorial and ‘a political loose cannon’ in another; a second prominent political handicapper moved the race to ‘Lean Democratic’ from ‘Toss-up;” and Republicans are now talking openly about his ‘disastrous’ campaign. I could go back further to his sexist and racially insensitive comments about a ‘bro with no ho’ and people ‘driving faster through’ African American neighborhoods, but you get the point. Senator Kirk’s campaign is in free fall, and no amount of misdirection can change the fact that Illinois families are tired of his reckless and obnoxious rhetoric.” — Matt McGrath, Democratic Party of Illinois spokesman

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:24 am

Comments

The very last thing Duckworth needs right now is rounds of depositions and even more media scrutiny on a trial that is just bad news. She should have settled this years ago, now it will be a problem.

Comment by DecaturGuy Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:30 am
B. Slow start, and the background Kirk sign seems weirdly done. But good footage of Blago nodding behind Duckworth.

To get an A, Kirk needs to convince the whistleblower to go on camera.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:31 am
Solid negative ad. To the point, and possibly news to independent voters. Very early to have much impact.

If Kirk wins, it will be with massive advertising, and smart campaign tactics, not from public appearances. From a small sample, he hasn’t been looking very good lately. Hope he does a lot better regardless of the politics.

Comment by walker Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:33 am
This race is going to be BRUTAL.

Comment by William Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:37 am
Wonder who the “top Republican insiders” are who are looking to muscle out Kirk? How many “top Republican insiders” are there these days?

To the spot, it would be much stronger if it got straight to the ethics and whistleblower stuff and hammered them.

The stuff before that is political junkie inside baseball. Who cares what newspapers are saying about her campaign? And why mention her spots at all?

Too unfocused. Not ready for the TV.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:37 am
==top Republican Party stalwarts==

are always unhappy about something. Mark Kirk is your best chance at beating Tammy Duckworth. Who do you have that matches up better against a disabled former Vet?

As for the ad, the gloves aren’t fully off yet, but this is the first step in the process of removing them.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:38 am
Duckworth is fortunate that this lawsuit did not gain traction when she was running for Congress.

Comment by Under Further Review Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:46 am
Meh. It all depends on whether Duckworth’s trial is concluded before the election and how she comes out. Right now the ad seems to wander.

Duckworth may be able to put together a string of clips of Kirk sticking his foot in his mouth, but in the past it’s always been off-limits to say a candidate is not physically or mentally capable of holding office. We’ll have to wait to see if she resorts to that.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:47 am
C. I second Word’s critique re: getting to the meat sooner.

As for the Sneed rumor, there’s only one Republican who has been tested statewide and has the cross-party appeal to win in this blue state. Has anyone asked Jim Edgar if he’s willing to run? /s

Comment by Century Club Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:51 am
From a veteran’s perspective, this is a great ad.

When he was in the House and now in the Senate, Mark Kirk has pushed innovative changes at Lovell Federal Health Care Center, North Chicago, including synchronizing computer systems and paper work between DOD (at Great Lakes) and the VA (at Lovell). Also,the Great Lakes and VA medical facilities cooperate. This sort of DOD and VA cooperation is unheard of between two monstrous federal bureaucracies.
To lose Kirk and replace him with Duckworth would be a blow to Illinois veterans. The ad speaks to this issue.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:56 am
I think that it is doubtful that Edgar would return to the political arena. He has been asked before and declined repeatedly.

He would be a popular candidate, but I would not make book on him entering the fray.

Comment by Under Further Review Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:05 am
Sorry, Under, that was snark. It seems like there hasn’t been an election since he retired that his name wasn’t floated, and as you point out, always with the same result.

Comment by Century Club Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:19 am
I suspect Jim Edgar would prefer staying out of a race which would dredge up issues of his conduct both as governor and later as a board member with Kemper Insurance Cos. and Kemper’s entry into receivership and thousands losing their jobs.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:23 am
The trial is the key event. Tinfoil hat thinking says this ad is trying to head off a slap on the wrist settlement that stops the trial.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:27 am
This is going to be an expensive race. Word in the clubhouse is that an African American CC commissioner is going to enter the race.

Comment by King maker Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:40 am
People, the Jim Edgar thing was a joke. Please note the /s meaning snark.

As to the ad, it’s effective but too early to have any impact. Also, it makes me wonder what the truth of the story is.

I give it a solid B as an ad. But I have no doubt the Sneed story is true. Problem is the GOP Illinois bench for that office is really weak. Kinzinger? Roskam? That’s about it.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:42 am
Actually, now that I think of it, a Roskam/Duckworth rematch would be fun.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:42 am
whoever mixed the audio needs to go back to school. Turn down the background music/sfx. I do dig the Blago over the shoulder shot!

Comment by Tom Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:46 am
Maybe it’s the dog days of summer, but my eyes glazed over when the ad was rolling. I mean, c’mon. A photo of Duckworth and Blago that is obviously at least 7 years old? Big deal. And she is being sued for something (kinda vague in the ad) for something that happened at least four years ago? I don’t see this one gaining any traction. I give the ad a “D” - grudgingly.

Comment by phocion Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:46 am
Great ad!!! How about calling on Quackworth to reimburse the tax payers for this expense?

Comment by AGomez Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:19 pm
==a top GOP source==

Who will get a CM or SA position if their guy gets into the race.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Assuming HRC is the nominee it will be a tough race for any Repub to hold the seat- RNC should be coaxing Kirk to step aside to allow for someone to have at least a shot to keep the seat for The R’s

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:03 pm
Sun-Times has been trying to destroy Kirk since 1999 even before he started running for congress. Surprised that wasn’t leaked to carol felsenthal. That party official should be drummed out of the party-who does this official-think can win the seat? Do they notice the GOP’s record in blue state senate races the last 30 years? Kirk, Fitzgerald, scott brown, and Bueller?

Great ad!

Comment by Shore Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:08 pm
The question is whether Kinzinger or Roskam would even take it, and every day is getting later and later. If gop is smart they would be moving heaven and earth to give Kirk an off ramp. I like him but it is unfortunately obvious that he cannot win. I wish it weren’t the case. As far as who… I’d say Kinzinger. Young and veteran but again, not even sure he’d be interested this late in the game

Comment by Not Alan Keyes Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:26 pm
To the update….slow down and take a breath dude. One thing we have here is plenty of time. Untie your undies and splash a little water on your face. It’s hot out there. Jeesh.

Comment by A guy Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:48 pm
AGomez, how about doing away with the juvenile name calling?

Comment by Aldyth Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:52 pm
I don’t care for ads like this (creepy music, whispering voice) but this one works well.
It tells us why supporting her is bad for the State and bad for individuals. It puts her together with Blago which is always bad.
The commercial shows Tammy that she has a rough race ahead of her.

Comment by Belle Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:56 pm
wow. the ad came out last week. i think the Dems need to up their rapid response a bit

Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:58 pm
===Untie your undies and splash a little water on your face. It’s hot out there. Jeesh.===

cc: Trover, L., and Goldberg, R.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:00 pm
The problem for Kirk is that the subject matter of this ad is all that he has and in a Presidential year with a woman on top of the ticket, it won’t be nearly enough.

His warm and fuzzy moderate persona is a long gone memory. The reality is he’s now the loose cannon who is keeping company with the likes Mike Huckabee and other far right wing nuts in his attacks on the President.

Comment by slow down Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:13 pm
– The ad came out last week.–

It’s online. Who saw it until Rich posted it?

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:15 pm
This ad stings. Hopefully, for TD’s sake, it’s not as bad as it sounds…

On another note, I can’t think of a Repub that’s got a better shot at beating Tammy than Kirk.

Comment by Centennial Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:49 pm
Someone has to step up and run against Kirk in the primary, he will get beat badly in the general. Time to draft a canidate? How about Truax? He has some name recognition though I may have spelled it wrong. Yes the kind of candidate republicans could get behind.

Comment by Gotta be another option... Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 3:00 pm
Not truax. If you can’t beat Oberweis prolly not the guy. Truax needs to start smaller vs shooting for the moon IMHO

Comment by Not Alan Keyes Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 3:16 pm
Hopefully people see her for the no good Dem that she is. Senator Kirk has been great for this state, he needs to be reelected!

Comment by King Arthur Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 4:30 pm