Kirk seeking Palin's endorsement when in town for Oprah

Chicago, IL - U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk asked a national Republican power broker to secure an endorsement by conservative former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin when she hits town later this month to appear on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," according to a memo obtained by the Tribune today.

The request came a day after Kirk, who has long billed himself as a moderate, dodged questions from reporters about whether he would want Palin, the controversial 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, to raise campaign money for him.

According to the memo, Kirk asked the power broker, Fred Malek, if he could have Palin "say something quick and decisive" to back Kirk's candidacy during her scheduled Nov. 16 trip to Chicago to appear on Oprah.

Read more on Clout Street from the Chicago Tribune.