Illinois Senate: Captain Kirk or Da Coach?

It’s looking more and more likely that Illinois Senate is going to a Special Election with a probably primary in March and the general in April. Given the state of the Democratic Party and the fact that most of the probable Democratic candidates were under consideration in the midst of this scandal, there’ll be a cloud of suspicion.

The Blagojevich scandal wraps an albatross around the necks of Democrats with a Governor who enjoys a 7% approval rating (Hat Tip: The Corner.) that makes Former Ohio Governor Bob Taft’s 2006 approval ratings look like Ronald Reagan.

According to Chris Cilliza (Hat Tip: CFG.) the Democrats could have an extremely crowded field which would serve to rip open intra-party fissures on top of everything else.

Democrats have one thing going for them in their efforts to keep Obama’s Senate seat blue: The Illinois Republican Party. (i.e. The Gang that can’t shoot straight and managed to stumble and bumble their way into another term of Blagojevich. The part is so deciminated Cilliza can only come up with two candidates: Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and outgoing Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) who he considers unlikely to run. Others have brought up Former Governor Jim Edgar (R)-who may very well being the last non-Felon Governor in the history of Illinois. Edgar is always named whenever a job opens and never runs.

What about Kirk? Cilliza writes:

* Rep. Mark Kirk: Kirk, who has held the North Shore 10th district since 2000, is, without question, Republicans’ strongest potential candidate. Kirk has proven his vote-getting ability in a swing district over the past few cycles, has a decidedly moderate voting record, and is among the strongest fundraisers among House GOPers. (Kirk raised $5.5 million for his 2008 race.) Kirk’s problem would be the Republican primary as his record on social issues is anathema to the party’s base. But, will conservatives forgo a chance to reclaim the seat by working to oust Kirk in a primary? Time will tell.

If Kirk were a little Pro-Choice, I don’t know if this would be a problem, but Kirk is a lot pro-choice. Kirk gets 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America every year. And it’s not just abortion. He gets A C- from the American Taxpayers Union. Kirk’s 57% ACU Rating makes John McCain look conservative by comparison.

This is going to be a low turnout election where at least having some conservative issue groups in line is going to be essential. I can’t imagine any pro-life group, or any gun group, or anti-tax group, or any fiscally conservative group throwing their heart and soul behind Mark Kirk.

Is there anyone else? There’s one good possibility. Bruce Walker suggests a candidate, former Bears Coach Mike Ditka:

Coach Ditka gained fame and fortune with bare knuckles and a bullying thunder – but his fighting was honorable, gritty, character-building fighting. He earned everything he ever had with hard work. Can anyone imagine trying to bribe Senator Ditka? Can anyone imagine trying to intimidate Senator Ditka?

Mike Ditka doesn’t want the job of senator. That is exactly what our country needs. Someone who reluctantly, led only by love of his country and what it represents, runs for office is the cure for what ails us. Mike Ditka doesn’t need to be senator. He became a household word in our nation and an honored name among all sports fans because he worked his tail off, never backed off from any fight, and never earned a dime on the taxpayer’s tab. We need someone sick of politics to run for political office.

I think Walker is exactly right principally as well as politically. Folks are tired of insiders, tired of corruption, and Ditka is about as far outside as you can get. Ditka would have strong Republican support and would connect with common people in Illinois. If Ditka jumps in, I think he becomes a presumptive frontrunner for the GOP Nomination and for the seat.