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* This isn’t much of a surprise considering the field and the history…
-Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) will endorse GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Chicago on Monday morning, a move that had been expected. Kirk will be joined at a Loop press conference with Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, who has been organizing Illinois for Romney.
Romney has the deepest Illinois operation of any of the 2012 Republican rivals. People have already been recruited to run for delegates and major Illinois endorsements have been out for months. In backing Romney, Kirk follows a string of Illinois Republicans: former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Rep. Judy Biggert and Rep. Aaron Schock.
* Romney backed Kirk for US Senate and contributed to his campaign. The Tribune was given Kirk’s prepared remarks in advance…
“Romney will cut spending, repeal the health care law and restore private sector economic growth. He is a foreign policy hawk who will stand up to Iran,” Kirk said in a statement prepared in advance of his endorsement and provided by his political operation.
“America needs his managerial talent, team-building spirit and hard-nosed sense of economic common sense,” Kirk’s statement said.
More Trib…
The value of Kirk’s endorsement is debatable. Illinois doesn’t hold its presidential primary until March 20, and it is questionable whether a fluid race for the Republican nomination will continue. But Romney has a strong ground operation in Illinois, which has a large number of convention nominating delegates at stake if there is a Republican contest.
Earlier Romney told Fox News Sunday that a drawn-out contest is “certainly a possibility” because of new party rules that allocate delegates on a proportional basis of the popular primary vote in early states, just as Democrats do.
* And Greg Hinz reports that Newt Gingrich is attempting to woo state Sen. Bill Brady…
A Brady endorsement would give Mr. Gingrich two things he badly needs here: a big name on his side and, more important, help in putting together slates of delegate candidates for the GOP National Convention.
Right now, despite his national poll motion, Mr. Gingrich has little if any ground game or delegate operation here, with numerous establishment Republicans gravitating to Mitt Romney. Unless the federal courts toss out the new congressional map, the Gingrich campaign will have only until Jan. 6 to file its slates, so signing up someone who ran a statewide campaign like Mr. Brady would be quite helpful.
That having been said, Mr. Brady has not yet committed. “I’m not there yet,” he said, and if Mr. Gingrich helped him during his gubernatorial campaign “so did Gov. Romney.”
But when I asked Mr. Brady if he’s leaning one way or the other, he replied, “I like the energy Newt brings.”
I think they may be waiting a bit to see if Newt crashes and burns like so many other Republicans have this year.
* OK, you know how much I hate national politics, so let’s all do our very best to keep the bumper sticker slogans and DC talking points out of comments, please. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 8:29 am
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Wait.
I didn’t receive the e-mail message from Kirk in which he asks, “Should I endorse Romney? Yes or No,” with no other choice in his objective test world.
It makes me wonder. Does he make the decision on the issue before or after he sends mass e-mails to constituents? Is there another set of constituents from which he gets input?
Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 8:37 am
An exercise in irrelevence.
Comment by Aldyth Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 8:44 am
–He is a foreign policy hawk who will stand up to Iran,” Kirk said–
Given our experiences and the expense in blood and treasure of the last sixty years or so in Asian land wars, let’s keep a short leash on Captitol Hill dress-up cowboys like Kirk.
On September 12, 2001, a hundred thousand in Teheran marched in a silent candle-lit vigil for Americans killed the day before. Just two years ago, scores of Iranians were killed in the streets for opposing the gangster theocrats who run the country.
The Iranian people are not our enemies. And if very recent history teaches us anything, the thugs who run the show there are not long for this world. It won’t be gasbags like Kirk who take care of things, but the people who live there.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 8:57 am
A Brady endorsement would give Mr. Gingrich two things he badly needs here: a big name on his side..
So Bill Brady is a “big name?” Surely a sign of the apocalypse.
Comment by mr. whipple Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 8:59 am
Kirk spurned mccain in the 2000 primary after mccain did an event for him and backed bush even though bush was less popular in his district. If romney would have collapsed and perry or huntsman looked like they were going to win big in iowa or NH he wouldn’t be making this announcement today.
Comment by shore Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:01 am
NoTaxBill might want to check the clips to see that Newt was a bomb at a recent Aaron Schock fundraiser. Event had to moved to a room about 1/10th the size and still could not fill the space.
He might be the guy to propel NoTaxBill into the limelight.
BTW Speaking the man once decribed by the PJS as dreamey, when will someone connect dots between the Franking Commission ban on Merry Christma mail and the chairman —Aaron Schock?
Fire Ready Aim
Fire. Aim Ready
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:01 am
Its amazing how everyone has figured out that irrelevance of endorsements except for the people making them. In this case the obvious favor being returned shows that this has little to do with voters. Newspaper endorsements seem nearly useless as well.
Comment by AC Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:02 am
Let’s look at this.
Newt wants the endorsment of the guy who could not beat Quinn when most folks were ready to put flowers on Pats chest? Okay
I still think the National Race will be a tough and tight one but with what is floating to the top of the GOP side Obamas chances are getting better IMHO.
Comment by Bemused Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:04 am
It’s not surprising Kirk chose Romney, they’re quite alike. Kirk also pretended to be conservative while running for senator.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:05 am
My guess is that by the time this show reaches Illinois Newt will be toast. It’s probably wise that most of the high profile R’s are hedging their bets at this point. I wouldn’t even rule out a future Ron Paul surge before this thing is determined.
Comment by Stones Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:07 am
Could the IL GOP become any more irrelevant? Every time I think they’ve hit bottom they sink some more.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:13 am
Kirk endorses Romney.
In other breaking news the sun rose in the east today.
Look for full court press on behalf of Romney by all of the IL GOP dweebs after the 1st of the year. After their huge embarrassing fail on redistricting lawsuit, what could go wrong?
Comment by just sayin' Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:13 am
–I wouldn’t even rule out a future Ron Paul surge before this thing is determined. –
Watch our for Ron Paul in Iowa.
It takes a special kind of crazy to wander out at 7 p.m. on January 3 in Cherokee County to hang for a couple of hours at your local school/library/firehouse.
The Iowa caucuses aren’t for the casual/uncommitted voter, as Newt will soon learn.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:20 am
As usual, the personal enmity clouds real political discussion.
Kirk got over the finish line last year because he did put together a relatively solid organization with a large volunteer base. He is also a masterful fundraiser. These are two valuable things for Romney. Kirk can add to the Romney field operation that will help him elect delegates, and Kirk will add to Romney’s already strong IL fundraising.
While IL won’t be in play in November, Romney needs the state’s delegates and every GOP prez candidate needs Illinois $$$$.
It’s a good move by Kirk.
Comment by Adam Smith Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:23 am
Since Sen. Kirk endorsed Gov. Romney, Romney is probably liberal. In 2009, Kirk’s rating from Planned Parenthood was 100%, and his rating from Gun Owners of America was 0%. All conservatives should avoid Romney.
Comment by Conservative Veteran Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:24 am
“Since Sen. Kirk endorsed Gov. Romney, Romney is probably liberal”
That’s a joke, right?? I mean, Romney has been endorsed by dozens of unquestionably conservative members of the House and Senate, as well as some well known conservative governors. I suppose those offer no evidence of his philosophical leaning, however. The Kirk endorsement is the key indicator.
….give me a break.
That’s as pathetic as Gingrich trying to use the endorsement of the DM Register as evidence of Romney’s liberal-ness.
Comment by grand old partisan Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:36 am
Eh, whatever. Does it even matter? Yeah, Kirk can help Romney bring in the bucks and might help with delegates. But Kirk also didn’t have a strong field operation in 2010. Kirk relied on a lot of local staffers and campaign operatives to pull of seemingly minor details. If that’s the case, how would Kirk’s “operation” be helpful to Romney in terms of the nitty-gritty duties such as collecting petition signatures or walking precincts or putting up signs?
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:39 am
I would love to see what advice Bill Brady would give a national candidate on how to win in Illinois.
“Whatever you do, don’t let anybody tell you that you have to spend time in Chicago or the suburbs. They are wrong!”
Comment by Anon Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 9:44 am
From Kirks’ Twitter feed:
Death of #NorthKorean dictator should prompt the #WhiteHouse to support our allies in South Korea. US troops there would help calm things
Great, lets keep the global police force going. Maybe we can start another war.
Comment by TTWSYF Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 10:04 am
Nothing like hiring an acrobat to defend your flip-flopping.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 10:09 am
I think the Illinois Republican primary will be significant, because I don’t think a runaway winner is likely to emerge sufficient to induce Governor Perry to drop out of the race before his winner-take-all primary in Texas in early April.
Comment by Dan Johnson Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 10:10 am
“OK, you know how much I hate national politics…”
I just don’t understand that statement. Hate should be reserved for those things truly vile: carrots and celery served with a yogurt dip; Celine Dion interviews; the designated hitter rule.
How can anyone not love national politics?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 10:11 am
Kirk’s Twitter:
–Death of #NorthKorean dictator should prompt the #WhiteHouse to support our allies in South Korea. US troops there would help calm things–
Who knew that we weren’t already supporting our allies in South Korea.
There’s something profoundly appropriate about Commander Kirk holding forth on global power politics on Twitter. The medium fits the messenger.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 10:18 am
–US troops there would help calm things–-
What exactly does Kirk’s “tweet” mean? What and where are U.S. troops supposedly going to “help calm things?”
How much more of a lightweight can you be to use a Twitter posting to make confused and meaningless statements about the commitment of United States ground troops — you know, real live men and women who risk their lives for their country? Not the dress-up kind.
In honor of Kirk, those who use Twitter for such nonsense should be referred to as a “Twit.”
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 10:26 am
Bill Brady owes Newt big time. Newt helped Bill Brady raise well over a million bucks last October.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 11:08 am
Doesn’t the RGA still yank NoTaxBill around pretty hard?
So it should be up to Chris Christie to tell NoTaxBill to back. Not that anyone really cares
BTW if were Romney I would not be too quick to have CommandoMakeItUp on my side.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 11:32 am
This year, the RNC has adopted the same rules as the DNC where the early primaries are not winner take all, but proportionally distributed. This endorsement may indeed prove important because with the donnybrook going on among the Republicans, it will be very difficult for anyone to deliver a knock out blow. it is very possible that three or four people are still in the race come March 20. I think we will see Romney, Gingrich and Perry still in along with one other person. This of course assumes nobody performs a career-limiting gaffe.
Comment by Cincinnatus Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 1:51 pm
Even though Romney’s support has been holding steady, while others pass him then flame out, I believed and still believe that he will be the Republican nominee.
Now as far as Kirk stating that Romney will be a job creator in the private sector, from what I’ve read, Romney’s record on job creation at Bain Capital is mixed, with bankruptcies, layoffs and outsourcing. I am still reading up on this stuff and hope to know more, but from what I’ve gathered, the only folks who didn’t lose in Bain’s dealings were investors. Images of Americans losing their jobs, in political ads, while rich investors profited, might not resonate very well with voters in this economy.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 1:52 pm
–I think we will see Romney, Gingrich and Perry still in along with one other person. This of course assumes nobody performs a career-limiting gaffe.–
In reality, they all have, but since they all did, none of them stuck.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 2:03 pm
Kirk and Romney are perfect for each other in so many ways, but does this really matter? I mean, by the time the party rolls into Illinois, Willard should have the nomination wrapped up. Even though 70% of GOP primary voters want someone else, it’s going to be Romney. Kirk is just making this easy on himself.
But I’m sure Kirk can help the Mittster expain away all of the inconsistent statements he’s made over the years. Kirk displayed a knack for that kind of creative interpretation last time out. That is experience you can count on friends.
“What I meant to say was…”
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 3:13 pm
Grandson of Man,
Your understand of Romney’s work at Bain is clearly more informed by “Occupy-ish” spin than any real understanding of economics. Bain invested mostly in companies that were on the brink of failing – meaning that without their intervention EVERYONE would have lost their jobs. They restructured the businesses so that they were profitable – and could continue employing some portion of their workforce. They also invested in a number of high risk (but high reward) opportunities. If it were not for Bain, for instance, everyone working at Staples would be either unemployed or underemployed right now – because the company never would have grown the way it did.
Comment by grand old partisan Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 3:13 pm
=In honor of Kirk, those who use Twitter for such nonsense should be referred to as a “Twit.” =
I winced when I saw the “calm things” tweet. Considering Kirk’s loudest argument for voting against the Surge was “limited resources and personnel”, it’s amusing that he seems to believe that the deployment of troops (or more troops) everywhere is no longer a problem. On the other hand, he also seems to be trying hard to get an invitation to the funeral to increase his international press coverage.
And his pandering to various ethnic groups continues as well. When so many Americans are out of work long term due to off-shoring, Visas, and no new “upcoming industries” to replace them besides low-paying jobs in the healthcare and hospitality “industries”, he and Scott Brown want to give 10,500 visas to Irish immigrants. (While I don’t have a problem with legal immigration, you have to wonder about his timing.)
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 4:46 pm
“I thought that he was a pretty good bet as Senator, but I can’t support him as President.”
And speaking of “gaffes”, I’m sure this one was a big hit on both sides of the aisle as well. I guess Jack Ryan didn’t have Mr. Kirk’s support after all.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 5:27 pm
I think Newt already has plenty of baggage. Why in God’s name would he want to add Bill Brady’s?
Comment by too obvious Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 5:40 pm
Don’t think anybody really has their ground game in place in Illinois.
Ran into a signature collector outside the local Farm & Home store. When I glanced at the petition, it didn’t have the office filled in and also seemed to be missing other required info. When I asked the signature collector what office, she never did answer me. When I persisted, she finally muttered it wasn’t for an office, just a primary. Further persistence finally got me the answer “Rick Perry”. When I looked really closely at her petition, the name was scribbled to one side, but not in the correct “blank” area.
Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 5:40 pm
“But Kirk also didn’t have a strong field operation in 2010.”
TeamSleep is right about Kirk’s ground game during the Senate race. On the GOP side, it’s generally Conservatives who are willing to do all the ground work–and most held their nose to help Kirk. I have a feeling that a “call to arms” from Kirk (or Brady, Rutherford, AND Schock for that matter) isn’t going to cut it this time. No one seems to want to give Kirk any more power than he already has.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 19, 11 @ 11:48 pm