Kirk seeking Sarah Palin endorsement: Washington Post reporting.

WASHINGTON–Chris Cillizza scoops in the Washington Post that Illinois Senate hopeful Rep. Mark Kirk–who bills himself as a “moderate” Republican–is seeking the endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, according to a memo Cillizza obtained.

Cillizza writes in his column, “The Fix” about the Kirk memo, where Kirk is concerned whether Palin will endorse a rival in the February Illinois GOP primary. Palin’s endorsement of a third party conservative in a New York race for a vacant House seat–drove the moderate from the contest and Tuesday resulted in the election of a Democrat.

Cillizza: “After noting that Palin will be in Chicago later this month to appear on “Oprah”, Kirk writes that “the Chicago media will focus on one key issue: Does Gov[ernor] Palin oppose Congressman Mark Kirk’s bid to take the Obama Senate seat for the Republicans?”

“Kirk goes on to write that he is hoping for something “quick and decisive” from Palin about the race, perhaps to the effect of: “Voters in Illinois have a key opportunity to take Barack Obama’s Senate seat. Congressman Kirk is the lead candidate to do that.”

“Malek confirmed the authenticity of the memo in an e-mail exchange with the Fix.”