Rep. Kirk going for Obama's Senate seat

KENILWORTH, Ill., July 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk said Monday he's a candidate for the Republican nomination for Illinois' U.S. Senate seat that had been held by President Barack Obama.

The five-term congressman, who also had considered a run for governor, portrayed himself as an independent bent on cleaning up political corruption in his state and a politician not bound by party ideology, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"In recent years, Illinois fell into misrule, first by a corrupt Republican and then an even more corrupt Democrat," Kirk said, referring to George Ryan, the convicted GOP former governor, and Rod Blogojevich, the former Democratic governor facing trial for allegedly trying to use his authority to name Obama's Senate replacement to enrich himself.

"But the coming election offers an opportunity to correct our course and set a very high standard for our state and her citizens."

Sen. Roland Burris, whose appointment to the seat was clouded by the allegations against Blogojevich, has said he will not see election to a full term.

Kirk, 49, is the first high-powered Republican to announce his candidacy for the Senate. Retired judge Don Lowery of Dixon Springs also has thrown his hat in the ring.

On the Democratic side, state Attorney General Lisa Madigan has decided to seek re-election. Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Cheryle Jackson, head of the Chicago Urban League and a former Blagojevich spokeswoman, and Chris Kennedy, head of Merchandise Mart and a son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York, are other Democrats thought to be interested in running.