Jackson Considering Kirk Endorsement

Democratic Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias may be on the ropes. Politico reports that Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is mulling the possibility of crossing the aisle and endorsing GOP candidate Mark Kirk.

Alexi Giannoulias is on the ropes, and a member of his own party is reportedly kicking around the idea of endorsing his Republican opponent, Congressman Mark Kirk. Politico reports that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (of Illinois) is mulling over the possibility of endorsing Kirk.  Jackson has yet to deny the claim. He told Politico: “I like Alexi Giannoulias, but I have great respect for Mark Kirk and his service to the people of Illinois.”

Jackson and Kirk work together on the House Appropriations Committee as well as the subcommittee responsible for providing foreign aid, but would Jackson really endorse a Republican? Both Jackson and Kirk did not return calls for comment, but it would be an extremely bold move for Jackson to endorse a member of the opposite party. More likely, Jackson could abstain from endorsing Giannoulias. By abstaining, Jackson would deny Giannoulias access to Jackson's political operation on the South Side of Chicago. In order to win, Giannoulias will need to gain a significant victory in Chicago and that will require his dominating the black vote. During the primary season, Giannoulias failed to draw an endorsement from any of Chicago's three black congressmen. Kirk has a large fundraising advantage which will give him large independent appeal. If Giannoulias cannot both turn out and win the 15% of Illinois voters that are black, he stands little chance of overcoming the gains Kirk will make downstate and in the Chicago suburbs.

The Kirk campaign did not respond to FrumForum's phone calls, nor did Congressman Jackson. Either way, the mere fact that Jackson has not come out and endorsed Giannoulias reflects his ambivalence toward the Democratic frontrunner and could hurt Giannoulias' chances to win the race, which -- despite a seemingly endless torrent of bad news -- still seems possible.

At the very least, Jackson's refusal to endorse Giannoulias and provide him with access to his political operation will require Giannoulias to spend more of his dwindling campaign account targeting black voters who generally would be squarely behind a Democratic candidate.