War heroine leads Democrat charge (Tammy Duckworth)

[T_i_B]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2415686,00.html

WHEN Tammy Duckworth’s army helicopter was shot down in Iraq, it took her eight days to regain consciousness. She asked in hospital why her feet hurt, not knowing that her legs had been blown off by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Two years on she looks the picture of health from the waist up and has a wide smile and an engaging laugh. One of her legs is only 2½in long; the other ends at the thigh. As she whirls around the campaign trail in her wheelchair, Duckworth has become a symbol of hope for Democrats in next month’s mid-term elections.

Polls show her just a point behind her Republican opponent, a lawyer, in the battle for Congress. The prosperous outlying suburb of Chicago which Duckworth is contesting, has been die-hard Republican for decades and is reputed to have more churches per square mile than any district in America.

In a normal year Duckworth, 38, would be trounced. Tax cuts, gay marriage, abortion: these would be the issues dominating the campaign. But this election, more than anything, is about the war in Iraq, a subject the wounded pilot says she knows “a little something about”.

[acmejack]

1. Wonder how Cegalis would be doing?

But will never know since Rahm decided the what the people wanted didn't align with the interests of the money and power. Three years of grassroots work flushed in a power play cause Rahm wanted a vet so he brought in an out of district person, yes she has a compelling story. But Cegalis pulled 44% against Hyde last time. Think about THAT.

Democracy at it's finest...

[dogman]

2. I thought about it, Cegelis lost. EOM

[acmejack]

5. DLC much?

[dogman]

9. Fabricate much?

44% only wins if three run.

[Jai4WKC08]

13. LOL!

Funny to see, Dog, accused of being DLC. :rofl:

[madrchsod]

3. that`s something we will never know

i feel the same way ..what if the democrats would have backed a strong canidate in denny hastret`s 14th? i guess i`ll never know...

[stevebreeze]

6. bull! We have a strong candidate, just not a wealthy one

nor is John Lasch receiving help from the state or federal party. Still John is closer to Hastert then any Democrat since 84 when Mary Lou Kerns ran against do nothing Denny.

[EST]

4. Yeah, I 'm still gagging on that particular power play.

Mr. Emmanuel is on my permanent shit list, with an approval rating at about 14%.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Sure. In December. Not two weeks BEFORE the Election

Who do you want to win now? Tammy or the Republican? How do your comments help mobilize support for Tammy NOW? Does it kill us to hold off on the legitimate discussion points you raise here for another two weeks? I don't get the sense that this is a flash in the pan issue that will no longer be of any relevance in December, in January, next July etc.

FOCUS!

[nickinSTL]

7. So, the Times in the UK has picked up on the Democrat Party

meme? :puke:

[DFW]

8. Tammy was leading

In most recent polls I saw, anyway.

I have met her, and she is some kind of special. If she
wins, it will be because she made it on her own.

[Jai4WKC08]

12. It's pretty close, but Duckworth appears to be winning

According to the data from electionprediction.us anyway. They are rating IL-06 as a "very weak gain" for the Democrats.

There hasn't been a poll in a couple weeks, but Tammy has pulled in slightly more money as of the end of the last quarter.

Polling Company -- Date -- Results
Constituent Dynamics -- 10/8-10/10 -- Duckworth 47, Roskam 47
Reuters/Zogby -- 9/25-10/2 -- Duckworth 43, Roskam 38
Goodwin Simon (D) -- 9/18-9/20 -- Duckworth 41, Roskam 41
Constituent Services -- 8/27-8/29 -- Duckworth 47, Roskam 46

Candidate -- Cash On Hand -- Raised -- Spent
Duckworth -- $901,694 -- $1,883,983 -- $982,287
Roskam -- $1,339,555 -- $1,867,756 -- $528,201

[Jai4WKC08]

14. CQ is still rating it "no clear favorite"

But that's the rating they awarded back on August 10th. I suspect Duckworth (and almost any Democrat) is doing considerably better now.

Illinois 6
• New rating: No Clear Favorite
• Old rating: Leans Republican
This district in suburbs west of Chicago is generically Republican, but that edge certainly has narrowed because of demographic changes and the national political environment. The Democrats have a strong and attention-netting candidate in Tammy Duckworth, an injured Iraq war veteran who has matched the Republican nominee, state Sen. Peter Roskam, in overall campaign receipts ($1.9 million). Duckworth is emphasizing fiscal conservatism, including an opposition to so-called spending “earmarks,” and is promoting her support for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. But Republican officials and Roskam’s campaign say Duckworth has not staked out clear positions on some major issues and is too closely tied to Chicago Democratic strategists who recruited her and are advising her campaign.
http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/08/big_batch_of_rating_changes_re.html

[LeftishBrit]

11. I hope she wins!