According to Chris Cillizza, earlier today Rep. Mark Kirk suddenly dropped out of the Illinois Senate race as quick as he got in. Apparently he didn't take kindly to having to run in a primary and the withholding of his Illinois Republican House colleagues' support:
Kirk's decision, a blow to Senate Republicans' chances in Illinois, came in the wake of Burris' formal retirement this afternoon.
It also followed a meeting of the Illinois Republican congressional delegation on Thursday in which his colleagues refused to back Kirk in a primary against Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna due, in large part, to his vote in favor of President Barack Obama's climate change bill.
However, Cillizza posted a quick update, which indicates that the GOP may be forced to capitulate to Kirk's little tantrum:
[T]here is an ongoing effort now to convince him to re-think that decision, according to several sources close to the discussions. Pressure is now being brought to bear on Andy McKenna, who, according to knowledgeable sources, had told Republicans insiders that he would not run if Kirk got into the race.
We'll have to keep you posted.
UPDATE: Politico says McKenna will make his final decision this weekend about whether to stay in the race or not, and:
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) spoke with Kirk this afternoon and he told her he was still planning on running, according to Kathleen Lydon, Biggert's chief of staff. Kirk had already scheduled July 20 as the date for his Senate kickoff announcement.
LATER UPDATE (James Hell): Kirk lays it all down pretty definitively to the Hotline here:
After much 'Will he? Or won't he?' speculation this afternoon about GOP Rep. Mark Kirk's desire to run for Senate in IL, Kirk said in an email to The Hotline that he was "still talking to Andy. We are trying to avoid a primary."
The "Andy" he references is IL GOP Chair Andy McKenna, who has made serious signals in recent days of his intention to run. When asked if this means that he may ultimately forgo a run, Kirk replied: "I will run if Andy does not."
