Kirk follows familiar path

Fighting a bad cold and a staunch Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk braced against a biting wind off Lake Michigan to review a plan he has been pursuing for years.

With him last week to announce a $34 million federal commitment to clean Waukegan Harbor of polluted sediment was Richard C. Karl, director of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund Division.

Kirk hoped it would project his ability to deliver both money and decision makers for the 10th Congressional District.

It's also one reason, observers say, that Kirk on Tuesday secured a fifth term, winning even more votes than in his first tangle with Democrat Dan Seals in a costly and nationally watched race. In a record turnout, Kirk's 150,000 votes surpassed by 25,000 votes his previous high total. He again bucked the trend by winning in an election in which the Democratic nominee for President led the field in Lake and Cook counties.

"When it comes down to it, voters in the 10th District are remarkably proud of their split ticket," said Staci Allan, who runs a voter-based consulting business in Wheeling.

"People are happy to look at candidates and not parties. That's why Mark won."

For Kirk, this victory was even more convincing, given he was navigating through president-elect Barack Obama's figurative back yard, faced a wave of voter desire for change and was in a rematch with Dan Seals, who this time had the backing of the national party.

Seals spent about $6 million, Kirk estimated, including a $2 million investment from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, for a wave of partisan advertising.

"I did have a worry in the middle of the campaign that there was no room for the center voter," he said Wednesday. But Kirk, who spent $5 million, had aces to play.

"Luckily, we had the resources to make our case and that case was very specific," he said. "Not only do we say we want to do things but, 'Here's the VA Hospital or the North Central (commuter) line.' "

The win was "evidence that the Mark Kirk-brand transcends national politics," said Ken Spain, press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee. An independent record and commitment to the interests of his district contributed to Kirk's "impressive" victory, he added.

"He was able to successfully distance himself from President Bush in this area," Allan said.

In the final leg of the campaign, Obama did a radio spot for Seals, a 37-year-old business consultant from Wilmette who made no bones about hoping to ride the wave.

Seals surprised Kirk in 2006 by getting 47 percent of the vote. But despite the push, he could do no better in 2008, snaring the same percentage.

Seals was not available for comment Wednesday and his future plans are uncertain.