Giannoulias to face Kirk in U.S. Senate race

By Kristi Eaton

CHICAGO — The gubernatorial race may still be up in the air, but residents of Illinois already known who will be battling it out for the U.S. Senate seat in November’s election.

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk will face each other after beating out fellow candidates in Tuesday’s primaries.

With 98 percent of the precincts reporting, Giannoulias had 39 percent of the vote. His opponents, David Hoffman and Cheryle Jackson, had 34 percent and 19.5 percent, respectively.

With 56 percent, Kirk led the GOP race. Patrick Hughes trailed with 19 percent. The remaining candidates had single digit numbers.

In his acceptance speech, Giannoulias, the State Treasurer, spoke directly to Kirk.

“It’s obvious that you’ve spent too many years in Washington voting with the special interests to ship our jobs overseas, that you don’t know that (unemployment is an issue). But come November, congressman, your days as a Washington insider are over.”

Meanwhile, Kirk, a Congressman in Illinois; 10th district, said the state needed a Republican in the position.

“Over the last year, quiet despair has descended on the state of Illinois — a governor arrested, a senator’s seat disgraced, corruption rampant, unemployment rising and families struggling. The people of Illinois now see the arrogance of a one-party state. And this election will show that we will not surrender to their dangerous cynicism of low expectations,” he said.

Kirk addressed his supporters at a Westin in Chicago’s North Shore.

“Tonight, we begin a journey to right our ship of state to reclaim our place as the honest Land of Lincoln, the center of North America’s economy and the crossroads of the nation,’ ’he said. The seat is open after U.S. Senator Roland Burris decided not to run for re-election. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Burris. Before that, the seat was held by President Barack Obama.