Kirk still hot on Gitmo, mum on Palin

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk has certainly tamed his rhetoric lately on moving Gitmo detainees to a western Illinois prison.
But he told Animal Farm today that he "stands behind" his earlier statements claiming the move would increase terrorism activity in northern Illinois and put residents in direct danger.
"There is a danger," the Highland Park Republican said.
Kirk's statements on the 'Illinois Gitmo' proposal have been portrayed as just another example of his attempt to move right in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate.
Hinsdale real estate developer Pat Hughes hopes to capitalize on segments of the Republican party base who view Kirk as far too moderate for their liking. During his five terms in U.S. House, Kirk has proposed assault weapons bans, backed abortion rights and voted for cap-and-trade legislation, among other, more Democratic things to do.
Hughes has traveled to Washington D.C. on several occasions, hoping to lock up the kind of conservative support Doug Hoffman enjoyed in the recent New York special congressional election.
So far, Hughes doesn't have a whole lot to show for his Capitol Hill meetings with the Senate Conservatives Fund (Sen. Jim DeMint), FreedomWorks (Dick Armey), National Right to Life and representatives for Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee.
The clock is ticking for Hughes and it remains to be seen if these high profile groups are willing to spend their resources and clout in a blue state like Illinois. The New York 23rd District congressional race should have been an easy win for Republicans even with the internal fighting.
Kirk's run to the right has included a pitch to Palin's people. His staff penned her staff a memo encouraging the former vice presidential candidate to say some kind words about Kirk's campaign.
That hasn't happened.
Today, Kirk continued to downplay and dodge the issue.
Asked directly if he wanted Palin's endorsement, Kirk said, "She will make up her own mind."
Asked again, Kirk said, "The key people that I'm focused on are the Republicans of Illinois and for the general election, the voters of Illinois."
As for Gitmo, Kirk said he is trying to ask serious questions about the move in the wake of the rhetoric.
"My questions get deeper and more specific with each day," he said. "The more research we do. The more concerns we have."
One more thing: Kirk has taken exceptional heat for his vote for cap-and-trade legislation. The conservative group Americans for Prosperity is running $1 million in ads opposing the measure, which now sits in the Senate thanks to Kirk's help.
Those ads will not run in Illinois.
In fact, Kirk now says he will vote against cap-and-trade if elected to the Senate - though that vote will likely have passed as he wouldn't be seated until 2011.