Republican Kirk Predicts 'Upset' Of Duckworth In High-Profile Senate Race
(CBS) – In the U.S. Senate race in Illinois, both candidates rallied their volunteers to get out the vote.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley was with both nominees on Monday.
After fighting back from a devastating stroke, incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk, the Republican in the race, concedes he's fighting now for his political life.
"We've got one day to go to pull off an upset win here," he said.
That's right – an upset, with Kirk claiming he's at least 2 points behind. Kirk has another dilemma: His scathing disavowal of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
That may win Chicago area votes but cost dearly downstate.
"They want to make sure they send a moderate Republican to the Senate, somebody who can balance the books, someone who is pro-choice, someone who is pro-gay marriage," Kirk says.
Meantime, Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth says she's taking nothing for granted, while already talking like a winner.
"I can't wait to get to work and get past tomorrow and get sworn in, so we can work as a team," she said.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and comptroller candidate Susana Mendoza joined Duckworth in Arlington Heights to make voter phone calls.
Duckworth expressed pride at being one of three women leading a statewide ticket -- for the first time.
"It's a real sense of empowerment for parents for their kids to see that women can truly lead this nation," she says.
Other women at the top of the statewide Democratic ticket are Hillary Clinton and Mendoza.
But Kirk warns not to count him out. He survived twice against strong Democratic challengers for congress and for senate and he believes he'll do it again.