Illinois Rep. Mark Steven Kirk spent his Friday shooting down a story that said he was pulling out of the 2010 Senate race to succeed retiring Democrat Sen. Roland W. Burris.

After the Washington Post reported Friday afternoon — shortly after Burris announced that he would not seek election in 2010 — that Kirk would not run, the congressman told allies that the story was not true.

Kathy Lydon, the chief of staff to Illinois Rep. Judy Biggert, said that Biggert called Kirk after the Post item appeared and that Kirk told her it was incorrect. Biggert is backing Kirk for the Senate.