Political veteran Nathan Sproul, Managing Director of Lincoln Strategy Group, discusses the race between Democrat Tammy Duckworth and incumbent Republican senator Mark Kirk for the open senate seat in Illinois.

1. ILLINOIS
S E N A T E R A C E T O W A T C H
A Presentation by Nathan Sproul

2. AS DEMOCRAT TAMMY
DUCKWORTH AND
INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN
SENATOR MARK KIRK
BATTLE IT OUT FOR THE OPEN
SENATE SEAT IN ILLINOIS,
EYES STAY GLUED TO THE
POLLS THAT ARE PREDICTING
A CLOSE RACE.

3. Regardless of which nominee
comes out on top, the winner will
break ground in bringing to light
the struggles of living with
disabilities. Both Duckworth and
Kirk are physically disabled and
often use wheelchairs.
A TRULY
GROUNDBREAKING RACE

4. Hillary Clinton’s 9/11 collapse raised eyebrows and questions regarding her health. Historically, presidents
have done their best to cover the tracks of disability–Franklin D. Roosevelt famously avoided being
photographed in his wheelchair. In the cases of Duckworth and Kirk, disabilities are a non-issue; both
candidates have determined that their candidacy shouldn’t be affected in the slightest because of
disabilities. Refusing to be defined by their disabilities, Duckworth and Kirk haven’t chosen to let what they
are capable characterize them, rather than what they aren’t.
N A T U R A L L Y , W H E N C A M P A I G N I N G F O R A
P O S I T I O N I N P U B L I C P O L I T I C A L O F F I C E I N T H E
U N I T E D S T A T E S , C A N D I D A T E S O F T E N H A V E
I S S U E S R E G A R D I N G T H E I R H E A L T H C A L L E D I N T O
Q U E S T I O N .

5. KIRK’S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND CAPABILITIES
CERTAINLY SHINE
THROUGH WHEN HIS
RECORD IS EXAMINED.
The native Illinoisan served in the military from 1989 until 2013,
including multiple reserve deployments to Afghanistan in 2011.
During his service, he earned numerous medals and honors,
ascending to the rank of commander before retiring in May of 2013.
Between 2001 and 2010 Kirk served in the United States House of
Representatives and as a member of the House Appropriations
Committee. During his tenure, Kirk sponsored or co-sponsored bills
in a wide range of areas, including national security, international
affairs and health, three of his biggest areas of concentration.

6. KIRK IS SEEN BY MANY TO HAVE A
STRONG CHANCE AT RETAINING HIS
SENATE SEAT DESPITE POLLING
SLIGHTLY BEHIND HIS OPPONENT.
HE HAS RECEIVED ENDORSEMENTS
FROM BOTH THE HUMAN RIGHTS
CAMPAIGN AS WELL AS AMERICANS
FOR RESPONSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
THE RACE AHEAD

7. NATHANSP
ROUL.COM