Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), first elected in 2000, is fresh off two close races in his moderate district north of Chicago, which has voted for Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama in the last three presidential elections. He's reportedly "poised" to run for Senate, and a new PPP poll indicates he's in good position at the starting gate.

According to the survey (April 24-26, 991 RV, MoE +/- 3.1%), Kirk, who's still not well-known statewide, runs even with Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and leads both Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Sen. Roland Burris. He trails Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, though many expect her to run for governor.

Kirk 53 - Burris 19 - Und 28

Kirk 37 - Schakowsky 33 - Und 30

Kirk 35 - Giannoulias 35 - Und 29

Kirk 33 - Madigan 49 - Und 18

Should Kirk choose to run for re-election, he'll have a Democratic challenger awaiting him. State Sen. Michael Bond announced yesterday his intentions to run for the 10th District seat.