IL GOP Chair Andy McKenna just released the following statement:

“As Party Chairman my goal has been to build Party unity. Mark Kirk and I met last evening as part of an ongoing discussion about the U. S. Senate race. I reassured Mark that if he chooses to be a candidate, I will not oppose him.”

Despite the initial resistance to Kirk among Illiois Republicans - primarily because of his recent vote in favor of Waxman-Markey cap and trade - this reopens the door for him to enter the race, and clears away his most formidable primary challenger.