Field Thins in Race for Obama’s Seat

[cory777]

Source: NYTimes

By MONICA DAVEY
Published: February 2, 2010

CHICAGO — Representative Mark Steven Kirk, a Republican, and Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois treasurer and a Democrat, won primary elections for the United States Senate here on Tuesday, setting up the pair for a contest in the fall over the seat once held by President Obama.

Though Illinois has been reliably Democratic in recent years, Republicans hope to see inroads this year, and Mr. Kirk, a five-term congressman with centrist-leaning views, wasted no time in making that clear.

“The people of Illinois have seen the arrogance of a one-party state,” Mr. Kirk said in a victory speech. “We know that one political party cannot hold all the answers, and that one political party should not hold all the power.”

Mr. Giannoulias, who fought off a stronger than expected primary challenge from David Hoffman, a former city inspector general who had never sought office, tried to portray Mr. Kirk as so entwined with the Washington establishment that he was out of touch with residents here. “But come November, Congressman,” Mr. Giannoulias said to supporters, “your days as a Washington insider are over.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/us/03illinois.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. Giannoulias will have to hope and pray the Machine can save him

Any energy at all was behind Hoffman.

Kirk has his own problems with his base, in more ways than one.

[No Elephants]

2. Best wishes, Mr. Giannoulias. I hope to heaven you're a good guy.

[rpannier]

3. I'll vote for Giannoulias,

But I would have preferred Hoffman (whom I voted for)

[ChicagoSuz219]

4. Ditto. n/t