U.S. Senate race is baffling

The contest for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois is a curious one, even for this state. Given the economy and the tide of anti-Democrat sentiment surging across the nation, this election ought to be an easy win for “Republican” Mark Kirk. Instead, he's in what pollsters refer to as a statistical dead heat with Alexi Giannoulias. Why?

Kirk's credibility problems are not nearly as serious as his opponent's. The fact that the bank Mr. Giannoulias ran failed as a result of bad loans, some of which were made to known felons under his watch, should spell the Democrat's political doom, even in Illinois. The fact is that his campaign is still alive, and Kirk has to depend on a large voter turnout to push him over the top.

Let me suggest that Mr. Kirk has no one to blame but himself for his predicament. Not only does he not embrace the conservative movement, he goes out of his way to distance himself from the people who are making a huge conservative victory in November a possibility. Perhaps he figures that conservatives have no place else to go. That is a curious and perhaps fatal mistake.

Equally curious is President Obama's willingness to invest his own credibility (what's left of it) on the outcome of this race. He has campaigned hard for a man who is clearly not a voter favorite. Is it just Obama's ego that is offended at the prospect of his former seat going to the other party? Even if he wins, Mark Kirk is hardly a worst-case scenario for Mr. Obama. Giannoulias, on the other hand, seems like the poster child for the type of politician that ought to be avoided. Curious, indeed.

Tim Vana

Des Plaines