Joe Walsh: 'Real People' Want Me To Run For Illinois Senate

Joe Walsh Touts Support For Future Senate Run
FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2012 file photo, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh speaks after his debate with Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in Chicago. They are running for Illinois' 8th Congressional District seat in the Nov. 6 election. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2012 file photo, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh speaks after his debate with Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in Chicago. They are running for Illinois' 8th Congressional District seat in the Nov. 6 election. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) may be on his way out of Congress after getting beaten badly by his Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in November, but he's already looking for a way back to Washington -- only this time, as a senator.

In an interview with Politico published Thursday, Walsh confirmed that he was successfully being encouraged to explore a run for Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin's seat.

Walsh also mused about a Senate run in an interview just days after his defeat in November. The Tea Party favorite now tells Politico that "real people, activists, conservatives and every day Republicans all over the state” have given him support on the idea.

At Walsh's final town hall over the weekend, the outgoing Republican told supporters that “it’d be kinda fun to run against Durbin.” But Durbin's campaign manager told Politico that while the three-term senator had not yet decided if he'd run in 2014, he'd be "delighted" at the prospect of a potential contest with Walsh.

Walsh also tossed around the idea of running for governor over the weekend, telling supporters that Illinois Republicans needed "a Scott Walker."

While Walsh may believe that Illinois voters need more of him in their politics, Duckworth scoffed at the idea in an interview with The Huffington Post last month.

“Walsh has a history of running for office and failing,” she said. “If he thinks his extremist rhetoric is going to win over the state, then it’s a free country and he’s welcome to try it. But boy, that he’s talking about running for governor, I think, is pretty amazing.”

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