Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois is doing his best not to look like a Republican as he seeks re-election in a state that's expected to favor Democrats.
Kirk made his second appearance in Chicago's gay Pride Parade. He supported Democrat-backed gun control measures and called his party's presumptive presidential nominee "too bigoted and racist" for the job.
It's a wise strategy. His race with U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth is seen as one of Democrats' best opportunities to pick up a seat and possibly retake control of the Senate.
Illinois voters tend to vote overwhelmingly Democratic in statewide contests, particularly in presidential election years.
Kirk says he's always had an independent streak.
Duckworth's campaign says he's "pretending to be a Democrat" as a matter of "political survival."
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