Could Palin Put Kirk Over the Top? More Importantly: Would She?

By Karl Klockars in News on Nov 4, 2009 9:40PM

Chris Cilizza, writing for The Fix at the Washington Post is reporting today that Senate candidate Mark Kirk is courting an endorsement from America's Sweetheart, Sarah Palin. According to Cilizza, Kirk fired off a memo to GOP bigwig and Berwyn-born Fred Malek, hoping to nail down a friendly howdy-do from Palin.

After noting that Palin will be in Chicago later this month to appear on "Oprah", Kirk writes that "the Chicago media will focus on one key issue: Does Gov[ernor] Palin oppose Congressman Mark Kirk's bid to take the Obama Senate seat for the Republicans?"

Kirk goes on to write that he is hoping for something "quick and decisive" from Palin about the race, perhaps to the effect of: "Voters in Illinois have a key opportunity to take Barack Obama's Senate seat. Congressman Kirk is the lead candidate to do that."

The most recent polling has Kirk neck-and-neck with current state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, although independents line up for Kirk by a 2:1 ratio. So, is it gonna happen? Kirk's vote for the cap-and-trade bill would likely stick in Palin's craw, seeing as how she slammed it in a WaPo op-ed in July.

Her endorsement of Conservative candidate David Hoffman in New York certainly makes it seem she's more likely to endorse a last-minute Hail Mary second run by Alan Keyes, although Eric Wallace dropping out of the race as a Republican makes it look like he might be lining up to take on Kirk and Giannoulias as an independent, which might be more Palin's speed. And considering yesterday's news that Hoffman lost while hard-right Tea Partiers are going to rage, rage against the dying of the right by opposing him, getting dissed by Palin might be in Kirk's best interest.

Update: Rich Miller at Capitol Fax has a few updates.