Tom Williams via Getty Images Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) is in a tight reelection campaign, which may be why he's willing do something crazy like follow Senate tradition and have hearings on a Supreme Court nominee.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said Friday that his party needs to "just man up and cast a vote" on President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee -- a break from GOP leaders' position that there will be no votes or even hearings until there's a new president.

Kirk made his comments on "The Big John Howell Show" on WLS, an Illinois radio station. He went on to say, in essence, what Senate Democrats have been saying all along about voting on Merrick Garland: It's our job.

"The tough thing about these Senatorial jobs is you get yes or no votes," he said. "Your whole job is to either say yes or no, and explain why."

The Illinois Republican is in a tight race with Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D), who is trying to unseat him in November. He's been trying to cast himself as above politics, and in recent days has been distancing himself from his party leaders' firm stance on denying Garland hearings.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declined to comment.