Illinois Republican Sen. Mark S. Kirk has responded to the Chicago Tribune's editorial board criticizing him after his stroke with an op-ed.
Last week, the Tribune endorsed Kirk's opponent, Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth. The endorsement said that while a stroke is not disqualifying, "we cannot tiptoe around the issue of Kirk's recovery and readiness."
In his op-ed for the Tribune, Kirk said the Tribune sought to "sucker punch" him.
"It would be comparable to the Pulitzer Prize Board judging the ability and skills of reporters solely on the financial solvency of the paper they write for," he wrote.
Kirk highlighted his support for same-sex marriage, the Export-Import Bank and rescinding his endorsement of Donald Trump in June. He admitted that he can't run, jump or swim as well as he could before his stroke, but is proud of his results.
"And that's all we stroke survivors can hope for _ don't judge us by our disability, judge us by our abilities," Kirk wrote. "We are not handicapped, we are handicapable."
The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call Race Rating has labeled the race "Leans Democrat."
