Time to hang up the teabags?

According to a memo
obtained by The Washington Post,
Kirk contacted Fred Malek, a Republican who has taken Palin under his wing, and
asked for the nod from the former Alaska governor.

Kirk — aware that the Club
for Growth has already indicated they are cool to his candidacy — is braced for
the wrath of Tea Partiers and more if he can’t secure some conservative cred
from someone like Palin early on. The Post reported Kirk noted that Palin
will be appearing on “Oprah” on Nov. 16 and that the Chicago
media will be sure to ask her whether she opposes Kirk’s candidacy. Kirk wrote
to Malek that he seeks something “quick and decisive” from Palin and
suggested the following: “Voters in Illinois have a key opportunity to
take Barack Obama’s Senate seat. Congressman Kirk is the lead candidate to do
that.”

We’ll be watching and
waiting to see if Palin approves of someone the Club for Growth does not. But
what we know now is that despite a win by a Democrat in NY-23, no GOP candidate
believes the conservative activists who backed Hoffman are ready to hang up
their tea bags.

WHAT ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS CIVIL WAR? Ask A.B. returns Tuesday, Nov. 10. Please join my
weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to askab@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com. Thank you.