Democrats vying for Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk's seat circled in Springfield today during the party's unofficial campaign kickoff.
One of them, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, took the opportunity to poke Kirk for skipping the GOP's rally yesterday. She got in a dig at GOP Governor Bruce Rauner too.
"Mark Kirk was supposed to be down here for Republicans' day with the governor. And he said he was going to be here, but he didn't show up. Now, I don't blame him because I don't want to be seen with the governor either ..."
Kirk's spokesman says the Senator missed the event because he had a government briefing in Chicago. While there are no major candidates challenging Kirk in the Republican primary, Democrats could have a bruising contest.
Cook County Democrats this week decided to make no endorsement. So far, neither has the state party.
Some of the party establishment backs Duckworth, but others back Andrea Zopp, a Harvard-educated lawyer and former member of the Chicago Public Schools board.
State Senator Napoleon Harris and Cook County Board Commissioner Richard Boykin are also mulling bids and attended Democrats' breakfast this morning.
