Will U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk run for Senate?

With U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk's victory one of the few bright spots for Republicans in a Democratic sweep across the country, the Illinois GOP establishment is looking to the Highland Park Naval Reserve officer for leadership on a statewide ticket.
Former Gov. Jim Edgar today said Kirk would be a good candidate for Barack Obama's Senate seat come 2010 and state Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican himself looking at a statewide bid, also pointed to Kirk for that spot on the ballot.
When asked in the midst of his fierce rematch with Democratic challenger Dan Seals about a possible future statewide run, Kirk laughed off the suggestion and said he was concentrating on staying in the 10th District.
But on Tuesday night, Kirk beat Seals despite an onslaught in TV ads and mailers attempting to tie him to President George Bush. Kirk couldn't be reached for comment on a statewide run Thursday.
Kirk won 54 percent of the vote, one point higher than he received in his first match with Seals in 2006.
Certainly Kirk appeals to moderates within his own party and independents in the electorate. He enjoys support from teachers unions, environmental groups and planned parenthood.
The 10th District includes Lake and Cook counties, which overwhelmingly went for Obama Tuesday night and John Kerry in 2004.
However, running statewide is a tough task for any Republican these days and there remains a lot of unknowns.
First of all, Kirk's move -- if there is one -- will likely depend on who he might face on the Democratic side, and that is up to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The governor is expected to make his pick by the end of the year. Top contenders include U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.
Then there is the prospect of a primary fight with the right wing of his own party.
Kirk may also make a solid gubernatorial contender for the Republicans, but there is already a line of decent candidates developing.
It may be easier for the GOP to take the governor's mansion in 2010 because they can at least run against the legacy of Blagojevich. Running to essentially succeed Obama is another matter entirely.

More speculation:

U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert won a sixth term against the well-organized Scott Harper in his first bid for the office.
Harper was able to raise a good chunk of change, nearly $900,000, to Biggert's $1.2 million. Biggert seemed surprised by the strength of the challenge.
Biggert won with a relatively slim 53 percent of the vote. National Democrats may smell blood in the 13th District, which includes the southern half of DuPage County and northern half of Will County.
The question is whether the 71-year-old Biggert sticks around to fight for another term or steps aside for another Republican to try and hold the seat. There are a lot of DuPage Republicans looking to move up.