CHICAGO — An Illinois Republican political consultant says Rep. Mark Kirk will announce Monday that he is running for the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

The consultant says he spoke with Kirk on Wednesday. National GOP strategists see the congressman as their best hope to take the Senate seat from Democrats in 2010.

The seat is currently held by Roland Burris, a Democrat, who says he won’t run for a full term. Burris was appointed by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is charged with allegedly trying to sell the seat.

Another Republican official, who had knowledge of the decision, confirmed that Kirk will make the announcement Monday. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they didn’t want to pre-empt Kirk’s announcement.

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Jackson contributed from Washington.