REP. TAMMY DUCKWORTH SAYS SHE'S CONSIDERING 2016 SENATE BID

[RandySF]

CHICAGO -- Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth says she's considering challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk in 2016.

Duckworth told The Chicago Tribune she's been talking with her husband and close advisers about a possible U.S. Senate bid. She says she still needs to have discussions with others, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Duckworth says: "I think it's pretty clear that people are looking for a change and I'm going to explore the possibility."

The 46-year-old from Hoffman Estates is an Iraq War veteran who just won her second term in office. She's on maternity leave until Feb. 16, after giving birth to her first child in November.

http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rep-duckworth-says-shes-considering-2016-senate-bid/481995/

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. My rep.

She's fine but I'd much rather see Quinn run for Kirk's seat.

[mopinko]

2. why? you a glutton for punishment?

i think she would be great. she pulls the rug out from him in a whole lot of ways.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. Mo, I respect your opinion immensely but I can't think of a significant thing she's done.

I think she's smart and able, and maybe Quinn's not the right one either, but I've been a little underwhelmed with Duckworth on the whole.

[mopinko]

5. well,

i tend to agree to a point. but she is a very high profile dem, and like i say, she drinks his milkshake image-wise.

but quinn, come on.

[tritsofme]

3. So would Mark Kirk!

He would crush Quinn.

I don't think this race will be the cakewalk many imagine. We need a top tier candidate like Lisa Madigan or Tammy Duckworth to win.

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. Lisa Madigan might beat Kirk. Tammy Duckworth probably wouldn't.

[Scuba]

6. I'd love to seem Tammy Duckworth in the Senate!!!

[Half-Century Man]

7. Excellent choice. Go Tammy Go.

On a slightly related note: Did you ever, in your haste to write a post, butcher some word so badly the spell checker recommends downloading another language module for future use? Mine recommended downloading Slavic languages.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Grubl framp soglosh.

[sueh]

9. It would make this Illinoisian very happy if Tammy would run for the Senate.

[Dwayne Hicks]

10. The right must be scrambling

After all aren't they constantly claiming Democrats hate the military, hate the soldiers etc etc....And yet a female war veteran (double whammy) who lost both of her legs in Iraq is a Democrat...It will be interesting to see the slander they try to fabricate.

[Unknown Beatle]

12. They did it with Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran.

He was "swiftboated" by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The right doesn't care about the truth, all they care about is keeping both houses red.

[RoccoRyg]

11. Dem in Illinois here...

Mark Kirk, to my knowledge, hasn't said anything horrendously stupid yet (he's no Ted Cruz), and that stroke he had may earn him some pity points. Duckworth's loss of her legs in the war may also earn her pity points, but Kirk is a veteran too. I don't know, if we get a really strong Democratic presidential candidate on the ballot, she may have a chance, but Kirk should not be underestimated.

[Jim Lane]

13. Is there any chance of a Tea Party primary challenger to Kirk?

You write that he "hasn't said anything horrendously stupid"; usually the Tea Partiers demand a minimum quota of horrendously stupid statements, else they'll deem the politician a RINO.

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. Deeply unlikely

Even Rauner, who strolled into the governor's mansion, knew to keep that shit under wraps. Illinois Republicans grab votes from the Tea Nuts downstate, but they get their money from the north suburbs, and those people don't put up with that sort of hayseed shit. Nobody's going to primary Mark Kirk, period, much less successfully.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Agree...I'd go further: Kirk will win handily against Duckworth

1) He has funding
2) He has sided with Democrats on issues important to Democratic voters, like DADT
3) He really functions as an old-school GOP moderate

Duckworth's one argument will really be "But he votes with the wackadoodle GOP caucus," but that never quite sounds like a local issue. People LIKE Mark Kirk, even Democrats.

Doesn't mean she shouldn't challenge him, but people thinking that Illinois is a blue state, therefore...will be disappointed. We just elected a governor far more conservative and far less likeable than Mark Kirk. I don't see how Duckworth beats him in less than two years time.

[sueh]

17. I remember Sen Kirk voting against extending unemployment benefits, after he spent a year at home

collecting a paycheck, while recovering from his stroke. Nope, he couldn't muster up some compassion for his constituents in Illinois, who were long-term unemployed, while he had a job waiting for him.

Not very smart, Sen Kirk.

[Cha]

18. Thanks for the reminder, sueh.. I remember what liar he was in the election against

Alexi Giannoulias.. not enough gave a damn.