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Mark Kirk Internal Poll Claims Lead In Illinois Senate Race
Illinois Senate candidates Mark Kirk (R) and Alexi Giannoulias (D)
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Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), the newly-nominated Republican candidate for President Obama's former Senate seat in Illinois, is out with a new internal poll claiming that he already has a strong lead over the Democratic nominee, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
The numbers: Kirk 47%, Giannoulias 35%. The poll was conducted February 1 and 2, before the primary. Independent polling has generally shown Giannoulias ahead of Kirk.
As David Freddosso points out: "This poll is an outlier, and it's Kirk's poll, so take it with a grain of salt. But it should put a fresh scare into the White House."
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felix
February 3, 2010 2:53 PM
If you listened at all to Hoffman's supporters over the past week or so, you were led to believe that AG is too dirty and has zero chance against Kirk. I'm sure that's an overstatement, but it wouldn't be unheard for Illinois to vote Republican in a Senate race. Hell, Peter Fitzgerald won there in 1996, when Clinton won overwhelmingly.
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TBender
February 3, 2010 3:21 PM in reply to felix
Fitzgerald beat Moseley-Braun (in 1998) due to the scandals that she was involved in during her term.
So, sure it's possible, but isn't it CW that candidates release internal polls when they're worried?
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converse
February 3, 2010 4:12 PM in reply to felix
If you listened to Hoffman supporters over the past couple of weeks, they were gonna win the primary hands down. Guess they lied about that too.
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Joshua the Teacher
February 3, 2010 2:59 PM
Will there be a 3rd party candidate from the Tea crowd?
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mans_best_friend
February 3, 2010 3:43 PM in reply to Joshua the Teacher
Already was. Finished 5th.
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Walter Mitty
February 3, 2010 3:05 PM
Kirk or RSCC already has an ad out painting Giannoulias as mobbed up.
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wedgee
February 3, 2010 3:30 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
To be fair, Giannoulias is mobbed up.
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mans_best_friend
February 3, 2010 3:47 PM in reply to wedgee
Good. Maybe he can get some of his pals to help break up Republican filibusters.
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converse
February 3, 2010 4:10 PM in reply to wedgee
What? Does he have too many vowels in his name for you?
What mob? Who? When? Answer with facts or shut up, fool.
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mans_best_friend
February 3, 2010 6:19 PM in reply to converse
The bank his family owns once lent money to a mobster. Therefor, he's "associated" with the mob...in the same way Obama was "associated" with Bill Ayers because they served on an Annenberg Foundation board together. He's also "associated" with Kevin Bacon.
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holyhandgrenaid
February 3, 2010 3:17 PM
Usually a released internal poll means that the candidate who released it is running scared... taking this with a grain of salt might be being too generous towards it.
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TBender
February 3, 2010 3:26 PM
Side note: The pro-Kirk "Take Back Illinois" banner ads are cute.
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acf_ma
February 3, 2010 3:44 PM
The poll could be correct as to who the leader is, if not the numbers, or not, but a poll at this point in time in the race, and history, can only be considered for what it is, a campaign statement, getting the first punch in against your opponent.
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converse
February 3, 2010 4:14 PM in reply to acf_ma
Or, it could be considered for what it really is, another republican lie.
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