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Press Releases
Citing Obama Wave, Cook Political Report Upgrades Seals-Kirk Race to Tossup
Seals Continues to Build Momentum in Campaign to Bring Change to Washington
June 5, 2008
DEERFIELD—Today, the Cook Political Report, a nationally renowned, non-partisan political newsletter, upgraded its ranking of the Seals-Kirk race from "Leans Republican" to "Tossup." See the ranking here. After weeks of desperation tactics coming out of the Kirk campaign, including Kirk attacking Seals for “want[ing] to back the Obama agenda,” the Cook Report's ranking indicates Congressman Kirk is in big trouble this November.
“Dan's grassroots campaign to change Washington has caught fire across the 10th district,” Seals Campaign Manager Patrick Mogge said. “After eight years of George Bush and Mark Kirk, voters are ready for a wholesale change. Dan will bring the new direction we need by fighting to bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq, make healthcare affordable and accessible to all Americans, and ensure that our economy gets going again.”
Cook Political Reporter House Editor David Wasserman on IL-10: “In 2008, the North Shore Chicago suburbs will be solidly behind the hometown favorite, Obama…That the 2008 race will be a more seriously contested battle played out within the context of the presidential race is a worrisome fact for Republicans.”
The Cook Political Report is just the latest publication to upgrade its ranking of the Seals-Kirk race. In May, Capitol Hill-based publication Roll Call changed its ranking from “Leans Republican” to “Tossup,” saying that Kirk is “expecting the fight of his Congressional career.” [Roll Call, 5/8/08] The current political environment is so bad for the national Republican Party, that Democrats have won three consecutive special elections already this year in ruby red districts, including ones in Mississippi, Louisiana and former House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s seat in Illinois 14th congressional district.
Even former National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman and Congressman Tom Davis recently stated, “if [the Republican brand] were dog food, they would take us off the shelf.”
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