Loss of Illinois House Seat Not Easily Dismissed

[struggle4progress]

By Mark Willen | Comments (0) | Permalink


... Republicans dismissed it as a single election that doesn't mean much for the broad picture ... but this was no run-of-the-mill contest. Hastert had been the longest serving Republican Speaker of the House, highly popular and a strong backer of Oberweis. And this is a solid and longtime Republican district, one that stretches from the western suburbs of Chicago into rurarl areas as far as the Mississippi. In 2004, President Bush captured 55 of the vote.

Republicans made a big push to hold the seat, pumping $1.2 million into the campaign so Oberweis could outspend Foster 2-1. GOP presidential nominee John McCain endorsed and helped raise funds for Oberweiss, while Barack Obama, eager to prove his strength on his home turf, threw his support to Foster. Foster promised to help get U.S. troops out of Iraq and to raise taxes on the wealthy, positions Obama shares. Oberweis said the surge in Iraq is working and accused Foster of wanting to raise taxes on the Middle Class, echoing McCain's stands.

In the end, Foster won 52 percent to 48 percent, with a turnout of close to 25 percent of registered voters, not bad for a special election, though nothing like what the presidential primaries have drawn. Foster won in almost every part of the district. He even edged Oberweis in Kendall County, according to Congressional Quarterly. Kendall, a GOP bastion, was Hastert's base. It gave Bush 61 percent of the vote in 2004 ...

http://blog.kiplinger.com/politics/2008/03/loss-of-illinois-house-seat-no.html

[babylonsister]

1. So goes the country in November, I hope! nt

[struggle4progress]

5. We know where the public is on this, bab_s_, so we'll certainly win fair elections:

but of course there's not the slightest reason to think the Pubs will fight fair: if Diebold gimped their machines to flash Republican in this special election, they'll try to cook up more tricks for November; and of course, the Pubs will be growling and attacking like a pack of wild dingoes up to the bitter end

Forewarned is forearmed

[Kittycat]

6. As long as Obama is on the Ticket - at least here in IL14

I'm in Kendall Cty, let me tell you this was a hard fight for that seat. Hillary will turn out the venomous, hate base like nothing else. We actually have a strong chance of keeping that seat with Obama on the ticket, because he is more acceptable. The truth is, many here are tired of the war and the direction of the economy, but they're not willing to bend when it comes to the clintons. As it stands, we're only now getting one of our local papers to start reporting more fairly, but it's a Thursday only publication. The other two leading, suburban daily papers were heavily favored for Hastert and his cronies.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. I see it as an omen.

[hisownpetard]

3. May this be the beginning of the end for the Republican party, as we know it.

[panader0]

4. Isn't Hastert due for a little investigating? Proping?

When will his crimes come to light?