Is it ever too early to back your party's SCOTUS pick?

Chicago Public Radio wonders if Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D) was too eager to express his support for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Giannoulias' opponent, hedged Monday when asked about Kagan's appointment.

"I don't think that we should come to a view right away," Kirk said. "Because the confirmation hearings are very important. And we should hold the confirmation hearings. We shouldn't skip them." Kirk's comments came shortly after Giannoulias "applauded" President Obama's selection.

Giannoulias: "And I encourage the Senate to act swiftly, fairly and judiciously toward her confirmation."

Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominees occasionally offer surprises and if Kagan turns out to be a political liability, it may reverberate through the midterm elections.

Meanwhile in Illinois, Green Party nominee LeAlan Jones said it's too early in the process to say how he'd vote if he were in the Senate.