It now looks like Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna will drop out of the open-seat Senate primary, which will allow Rep. Mark Kirk (R) to get back in the race. This follows the confusion last week as Kirk entered the race, dropped out, and then suggested he might get back in, all within 48 hours.
Chris Cillizza continues his coverage of the race:
Kirk To Get His Wish: Seventy-two hours after informing several Republican strategists that he was not running for the Senate in Illinois due to concerns of a primary challenge, Rep. Mark Kirk looks almost certain to get a clear field after all. Illinois Republican Party chairman Andy McKenna is nearly certain to bow out in favor of Kirk today, according to numerous conversations with strategists close to the process. Kirk had made clear that he would not run if McKenna also ran. While national Republicans will now likely get their wish — as Kirk is clearly their strongest potential general election candidate — his off-again, on-again decision about the race suggests an ambivalence that should be worrisome to Republican recruiters. A Kirk candidacy would give Republicans a real shot at winning the seat being vacated by appointed Sen. Roland Burris (D). On the Democratic side, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is the only announced candidate. Merchandise Mart CEO Chris Kennedy is reportedly interested but the fact he isn’t in the race yet suggests he may not get in.