Killing the GOP One Race at a Time
On Tuesday, Redstate.com's Erik Erickson penned a piece calling on “real conservatives” to take another look at whether or not they really want Mark Kirk to get the GOP nomination in Illinois: “ Kirk is not a conservative. The question is: is Mark Kirk the most electable guy the Illinois GOP can put up in 2010?”
The short answer to this question is yes - and for exactly the reasons that make Erickson so dubious.
Erickson proposes that:
conservatives who are happy to ‘grin and bear it’ with Kirk may at least want to consider the following:
Kirk voted against the Defense of Marriage Act.
Kirk voted against the partial birth abortion ban.
Kirk opposed the Iraq War surge strategy.
Kirk has an “F” grade from the National Rifle Association.
And let’s not forget TARP, Cap and Trade, etc.
Erickson's list is not quite accurate. Kirk did cast a vote in favor of a February 2007 non-binding resolution opposing the Iraq surge. But whenever his vote was needed to support the money and men for the surge strategy, Kirk voted aye.
Now then: here are a few more facts to add to the equation
- The GOP has lost 9 of the 10 last Illinois Senate Races
- In 2004, Barack Obama won the Senate seat currently up for grabs by a margin of 70% to the meager 27% that Republican nominee Alan Keyes commanded.
- In 2008, Dick Durbin won a third term in the Senate, commanding 67.84% of the votes
- In the 2008 Presidential race, then Illinois Senator Barack Obama beat John McCain 61.92%-36.78%
- In the 2004 Presidential race, John Kerry defeated then President Bush in Illinois 55%-44%
- In 2000, Al Gore defeated then Texas Gov. Bush 55%-43%
- In 1996, President Clinton beat Senator Dole 54%-37%
- Democrats control both houses of the Illinois State legislature
See a trend?
Now more:
Mark Kirk is the best vote-getter and fundraiser that Republicans have in Illinois. He won outright majorities of the vote in his North Shore district in 2006 and 2008 - despite a 61% Obama landslide in his district.
Erickson concludes: “given those dynamics, Washington, D.C. conservatives may want to take one more look at Patrick Hughes before getting into bed with a man they all admit will knife them in the chest with a smile once he gets to D.C.”
The key phrase here is "Washington D.C. conservatives." Illinois conservatives should have a better grasp of political realities. The nomination of Patrick Hughes - or a bloody primary fight that divides the party and weakens its nominee - will leave smiles only on the face of Illinois Democrats and the Obama administration.