Maryland Republican seeks Senate in Illinois

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Political commentator Alan Keyes, who lost two presidential nomination bids and two Senate races in his home state of Maryland, announced his Republican candidacy Sunday for the open Senate seat in Illinois.

“I’m not going to stand here … and promise you a victory,” Keyes told several hundred supporters in a banquet room in a local restaurant. “I will promise you a battle like this nation has never seen.”

Jack Ryan, the Republican nominee, withdrew six weeks ago amid a sex scandal touched off when his divorce papers were made public. GOP leaders turned to Keyes after prominent Illinois Republicans, including former Chicago Bears football coach Mike Ditka, rebuffed overtures to join the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

Keyes will face Democrat Barack Obama, a state legislator who delivered the keynote address at the party’s national convention last month.

Keyes’ announcement sets up the first U.S. Senate election with blacks representing the two major parties. The winner will be only the fifth black senator in U.S. history.

The Republican Party has until Aug. 26 to get Keyes on the ballot, and he must establish residency in Illinois by Election Day.

Obama, who has raised more than $10 million, issued a statement welcoming Keyes “to the race and to the state.”