Kirk Wins in Illinois

In the Illinois GOP Senate primary, Rep. Mark Kirk secured a commanding victory. Kirk will now face off against Democratic state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias for President Obama's old Senate seat.

Its a blowout in Illinois for Congressman Mark Kirk. With 92% of precincts reporting, Kirk is leading his next closest opponent, Illinois lawyer and tea party favorite Patrick Hughes by a margin of 57%-19. This is good news for the Kirk campaign, which secured a commanding victory without having had to run too far to the right.

The likely Democratic opponent, the talented Alexi Giannoulias, is actually in quite a dog fight tonight. With 91% of precincts reporting, the Chicago Sun Times is refraining from calling the race and is currently reporting that Giannoulias is leading his main opponent, Democrat David Hoffman, 39-34. Were Hoffman to somehow knock off Giannoulias, and it remains unlikely that he will, Kirk would become the favorite according to the polling data.

But for now, Republicans should be content. The best candidate prevailed. Now comes the real battle. This election will be about winning independents. Which means it will be about jobs and national security. That, folks, is a fight Mark Kirk just might be able to win.