Candidates Already Lining Up For Hastert's Seat
Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) officially announced today his retirement from the House in 2008, and prospective candidates are already lining up to make the race.
Republicans expected to get in: State Senator Chris Lauzen, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, and dairy businessman Jim Oberweis, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nominations for Senate in 2002 and 2004, and for governor in 2006. If Oberweis runs it could be entertaining indeed — his Senate campaigns were characterized by a Tancredoesque focus on illegal immigrants.
And on the Dem side? Dems appear to be lining up behind retired Fermilab scientist Bill Foster, who would be able to use his personal wealth to fund a healthy chunk of his campaign. The Democrats' original preferred candidate, state Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, has already said she won't run.
Bottom line: The GOP is favored to keep this suburban Chicago district, which voted 55%-44% for George W. Bush in 2004. However, Illinois Democrats might benefit from a coattail effect if Barack Obama were nominated for president, making the seat a potential pickup.
How dare you talk about candidates for Hastert's seat without even mentioning John Laesh? He is the guy who ran against Hastert in 2006 and got 40% even though he was unknown before the campaign began and was outspent by huge amounts of money.
Laesch is running again for 2008. Your article should at least mention him and how he stacks up against the others.
August 17, 2007 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm wondering if Eric Kleefeld isn't getting it straight from Roll Call, as opposed to any local press. But in any event, as strong as Laesch ran in the general last year, Bill Foster will be no Ruben Zamora in terms of the primaries. For starters, Foster can afford the kind of lawyering Zamora could not when Laesch's campaign bogged him down with petition challenges.
August 18, 2007 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a liberal and good citizen I'm glad as glad to see all these GOP rats deserting the sinking ship, but I've gotta say, What a Bunch of Pathetic Losers. They're abandoning their party when their party needs them the most. If we really do get the Democratic tsunami predicted for 2008, these seats are much more competitive as open seats than if the GOP incumbent had remained on duty and at his or her post.
August 18, 2007 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have not been following the race . . . Are the National Dems snubbing Laesh again and leave him totally stapped for cash?
August 18, 2007 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink