Will he or won't he? GOP wants Kirk to make a call on Senate run

Now that Illinois Republican Chairman Andy McKenna has said he won't run for the Senate if Mark Kirk does, suburban GOP officials are waiting for the congressman to make a decision.

Will the five-term representative from Highland Park run for the Senate seat now held by controversial Democratic appointee Roland Burris? Or will he seek a sixth term representing the suburban 10th District in the U.S. House?

Either way, they'd prefer Kirk make his intentions known sooner than later.

"We don't want to make it difficult for candidates considering running for the 10th (seat)," said Antonietta Simonian, executive director of the Lake County Republican Federation, the GOP's local campaign headquarters and fundraising arm. "You want to give folks enough time."

Time is of particular concern for Simonian and other Republicans waiting for white smoke or any other kind of sign from Kirk's Northbrook office because candidates can start circulating petitions for House or Senate races in less than a month.

Candidates also need to start raising money soon, especially if they'll be facing primary challengers in February 2010.

"It's a very difficult time right now for anyone to raise money," Simonian said.

In a brief e-mail statement sent to the media Monday, McKenna, of Glenview, revealed he met with Kirk on Sunday and said he won't run for the Senate if Kirk is a candidate.

Kirk responded with his own short e-mail, saying he appreciates McKenna's willingness to reconsider running.

"I will make an announcement about seeking statewide office soon," Kirk said.

The statements came just a few days after stories circulated that McKenna would run for the Senate and that Kirk was backing off his plan to seek higher office. The pair went into the weekend talking with each other about their political futures.

Suburban GOP officials seemed relieved Monday by Kirk and McKenna's apparent agreement.

"I'd hate to see two party leaders at odds with each other," Lake County Republican Chairman Dan Venturi said. "I think that would be very divisive for the party."

Venturi expects the Kirk camp may stay silent a short while longer as he notifies key supporters of his plans.

"I think we're talking days, not weeks," Venturi said.

Simonian believes the congressman's continued indecision could hurt him in the short term but likely not over time.

"Six months is a lifetime in politics," she said. "This is all old news in two weeks."

Simonian is pleased McKenna, who lost a Senate primary bid in 2004, said he'd back off if Kirk runs.

"I think in the general election, Mark Kirk would have a better chance," she said. "And (a) primary is a waste of resources."