UPDATE: The campaign for Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk told the Chicago Tribune Tuesday that Kirk will not be attending the Sarah Palin fundraiser in Rosemont. The Tribune reports:
Kirk, a five-term North Shore congressman, sought but did not get supportive words from Palin during the Senate primary campaign. Instead of attending the May 12 fundraiser in Rosemont, Kirk will be in Washington for scheduled House votes, his campaign said.
The issue of Kirk soliciting support for Palin was a controversial one for the GOP nominee. Though Kirk cruised through a multi-candidate primary with 56 percent of the vote---his nearest challenger got 19 percent---some activists said that Kirk wasn't conservative enough on social issues, such as abortion, to earn their support.
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Just weeks after her last visit, Sarah Palin is coming back to Illinois. This time, she will headline a Republican fundraiser in suburban Rosemont. Illinois Republicans hope her visit will bring big money--and support--for Republican candidates in the state.
The Illinois Republican Party says Palin will headline a party fundraiser May 12 at the Westing O'Hare in Rosemont, the Associated Press reports.
Donors who spent or raised $25,000 will earn a place at a private round table at the event, according to NBC Chicago. $10,000 donors get a photo and a seat at a VIP reception and $500 per person or $750 per couple get to attend the general reception.
The fundraiser will precede a previously scheduled Palin event at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, titled "An Evening with Sarah Palin." Tickets to that event started at $56, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Illinois Republicans currently don't hold any statewide offices.
Palin's visit will likely bring even more money to Illinois Republican Mark Kirk, who is running against Alexi Giannoulias for President Obama's old Senate seat. Kirk has already released rosy fundraising numbers, and Palin's visit won't hurt.
Another high profile race in the state is the battle for Governor, with Republican Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington challenging Democratic Governor Pat Quinn.
Palin spoke to 1,000 people in Washington, Illinois on April 17. Tickets to the event sold out in one day.