* Breaking news from Politico.com…
The Republican nominee for retiring Rep. Jerry Weller’s (R-Ill.) seat will be withdrawing from the hotly-contested Congressional campaign Saturday morning, according to two GOP operatives in Illinois.
“It’s pretty much a done deal,” said one Illinois GOP operative.
New Lenox mayor Tim Baldermann, whose campaign was dogged by fundraising woes, never was able to garner much momentum in his campaign to succeed Weller in the GOP-leaning exurban Chicago district.
* The Politico thinks this might be good for the Republicans…
Baldermann’s withdrawal from the race could possibly play to the GOP’s advantage. Since the primary has already taken place, the county GOP committees in the district appear like they will be able to appoint a replacement to take Baldermann’s spot on the November general election ballot.
* But it’s far from clear who the GOPs would go with. There wasn’t exactly a big line of well-known, capable Republicans begging to run in that district. And with the national Dems pushing hard for Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, recruitment could be pretty darned tough.
Reaction? Predictions?
*** UPDATE 1 *** From The Hill…
One source said Baldermann was disappointed with the amount of fundraising support he was getting from the party.
State Rep. Debbie Halvorson, the Democratic nominee, has raised $400,000, while Baldermann has raised jut $100,000.
*** UPDATE 2 *** I’m told by a good GOP source that Baldermann’s announcement will come later today, not tomorrow.
*** UPDATE 3 *** According to the SouthtownStar, he just made the announcement…
Baldermann, 41, said that until the primary was finished, he was unaware of how time consuming his campaign would be.
He said when he ran for mayor he had no trouble fulfilling his duties as police chief, despite critics who said it could not be done. But campaigning in a large congressional district and raising the money to run a legitimate campaign would require all of his time and attention over the next nine months.
“That wouldn’t be fair to the people of Chicago Ridge, New Lenox, or my wife and children,” Baldermann said.
He said he was not withdrawing due to an illness or fearing any threat of a smear campaign during the election.
“This is the best thing for me and the Republican Party right now,” Baldermann said. “The party leaders can select the best person to represent the district in the upcoming election.”
*** UPDATE 4 *** Statement from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna…
“Running for Congress is a difficult job that requires the full commitment from a candidate and his family.
“I respect Tim’s decision to step aside from this race and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
“The 11th District is representative of the mainstream values Illinois families share and I’m confident a Republican candidate will emerge who brings the type of change for Illinois we’ve failed to get from Blagojevich Democrats in Springfield.”
*** UPDATE 5 *** One name being floated right now as a possible replacement is Martin Ozinga, III, who owns Ozinga Bros. Inc. in Mokena. Ozinga is reportedly considering a candidacy and would likely be at least a partial self-funder.
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- Levois - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:05 am:
Heh, almost reminds me of Jack Ryan. The difference is this guy pushed himself out! I wonder why you’d bother running anyway if you really didn’t want the seat in the first place or the benefits of running. I wonder if he just got himself branded a quitter.
- chicountryguy - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:05 am:
Not sure. You have a prediction, Rich?
- Brady Bunch? - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:05 am:
Senator Bill Brady? Suburban Dems have shown you don’t have to live in the district to run and he’s close enough. He has name recognition, political organization, and has shown ambition to run for higher office.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:08 am:
Something’s missing here, it seems. He had the nomination, he could sit back and do nothing and maybe get lucky. It’s a little early to bail for “fundraising woes.”
- chiatty - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:09 am:
Hello, Representative Halvorson!
- Ramsin - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:14 am:
Here’s one way to guess: do a donations search by zip code and find the guy (or gal) whose contributed the most to GOP candidates from the relevant zip codes.
That person would make a nice, self-funding patsy to take shots at Halvorson on her way to victory.
- K to the 3 - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:19 am:
I would say Jim Oberweis by default, but he’s already running for Congress somewhere else. Brady is viable, but the GOP would be wise to look in Will County for a candidate that could undercut her base in that county, which has the lion’s share of votes in the 11th. Anyone would be as good as Baldermann–that guy was a goof.
- Centrino - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:20 am:
This morning I heard a couple of names thrown around for Baldermann’s replacement. I heard about Radogno again, but she lives 10 miles outside the district, too far away, plus they need to hold on to her Senate seat.
There was also talk of a judge and Chris McNeil, who had considered running in the primary, but backed out and supported Baldermann instead.
The other primary runners wouldn’t have a chance as Heenan isn’t well known and is unemployed and Jimmy Lee lost to Heenan and has moved back to Chicago from what I understand.
- Fire Ron Guenther - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:32 am:
Cory Singer, Will County Board member. Isn’t he married to former state rep. Larry Wennlund’s daughter?
- Centrino - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:34 am:
Cory Singer was a political operative/fundraiser for Jerry Weller.
Do you really want to give Halvorson that much ammunition?
- PhilCollins - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 11:41 am:
Senators Brady and Radogno are running for re-election this year. They won’t give up their senate seats to run for Congress. Chris McNeil would be a great candidate. He’s a conservative who ran against St. Rep. Renee Kosel, in the 2006 primary.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:10 pm:
Names that come to mind are former County Board Executive Joe Mikan and State Sen. Gary Dahl. Dahl could self-fund but will likely decline as he doesn’t need the $ and isn’t crazy about DC. How about former Weller staffer Reed Wilson, if they need a warm body? Not too many other high profile R’s in line, especially who have or could raise cash. That’s “Congressman” Deb to you, sir.
- Centrino - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:14 pm:
Reed is a great American, but he worked for Weller. I don’t think we need someone with such strong connections to Jerry Weller.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:21 pm:
This is bizarre, and similar to the Versace drop out on the Dem side.
If the Dems are having trouble finding someone to run against Schock, who is popular, but walks around spouting lines for his opponent to use, it is hard to imagine the Repubs. finding someone who wants to run against Halvorson who is not likely to provide much fodder for her opponent.
- Squideshi - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:24 pm:
I happen to know for a fact that many voters in rural southeastern Will County are planning on voting for Jason Wallace, the Green candidate in this race, because he’s the only one opposed to the construction of an airport there which would completely destroy their communities and farms.
- RMWStanford - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:30 pm:
From what I understand about Balderman this is probably a good thing for the GOP. As for candidates, I have no idea, I would say that Bill Brady is out for sure since he is up for re-election to his senate seat and is pretty set on running for Governor in 2010. Based off the district I would suspect that it will stay Republican unless a total goof is picked.
- heard about it - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:32 pm:
How about Alan Keyes?
‘member how he said he was in Illinois to stay?
- Independent - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 12:41 pm:
The GOP should nominate Terry “The Brain” Heenan for kicks.
- Truthful James - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 1:48 pm:
I am not sure who Balderman’s campaign member was, but he should be garroted.
But the true blame should fall upon the State party and its dumkopf Chairman Andy McKenna with his emphasis on ’self funding candidates.’ It permitted the National Republican Campaign Committees (for House and for Senate) to come in and channel money out of the State to send elsewhere.
And the Republican Jim Edgar sitting on his mountain of campaign dough in Charleston. He should have been tapped for a loan.
- Sock Puppeet Express - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 1:51 pm:
Wow …what did they have on this guy? Better check the cop shop to see if all the “evidence” is all locked up
This should mean more heat for ChopperJim and Capt. Kirk
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 1:57 pm:
Squid-
An anti-airport single issue campaign is worth maybe 1,000 votes in the 11th. Thanks for playing, though.
- Some Guy - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 2:13 pm:
Serious question — would the GOP be better off just punting this election at this point and putting all the IL GOP’s limited resources behind Kirk, & Obie? (And to a lesser extent defending Roskum & going after Bean?)
Everything’s already breaking badly for them in this race - Weller’s reputation is in tatters, Dems had the most prestigious candidate, fundraising woes, now the candidate drops out — and it’s really starting to look like a native son candidate will be on the presidential ticket.
What a mess.
- Chad - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 2:31 pm:
Word had been circulating for several weeks that Balderman had cold feet about going through with the race. Even before the primary election, Balderman was protesting a bit too much that the party was “lucky to have him”. I don’t have much sympathy for these kinds of candidates and their enablers who expect that “someone else” — usually the “national or state party” — will raise their campaign budget. But I also don’t have much respect for the local and congressional personnel who shopped this guy around as the “approved candidate”. The guise was “this is our guy, and we can control him”. Let’s face it, in a territory that should be ripe to develop a center-right candidate (not a crazy), the local and state GOP has done a miserable job of developing a good bench, and screening out non-serious candidates like Balderman. Focus on the fundamentals folks — good candidate recruitment and good party fund raising. It is the best way to survive in the long run, and a good way to avoid frequent reliance on self-funders.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 2:54 pm:
Good riddance. He was a ham-handed amateur.
How about Bill Mitchell? He’s a pro.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 3:07 pm:
I predict the GOP will have difficulties recruiting a top-shelf candidate.
- Whence cometh a candidate - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 3:43 pm:
It’s not all the party’s fault. Blame Weller. It was late to get a top shelf candidate even when Weller dropped out last fall. The clock is now positively tyrannical.
The Will County party chair controls 48 % of the vote to select a replacement. It’s a weighted vote among the chairs based on most recent election turnout in the district.
That would be the first phone call for any potential candidates.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 4:00 pm:
This is a dead end race in 2008, so anyone running is wasting their time…unless they walk with 100K in fundraising.
The only reason to run someone is to attempt to shred Halverson so she’s vulnerable in 2010.
- PhilCollins - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 4:29 pm:
No, Some Guy, the IL GOP shouldn’t punt this race. They should spend equal amounts in that race and the campaigns of Rep. Roskum, St. Rep. Schock, Oberweis, and Greenberg.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 4:33 pm:
You can’t only blame Weller, but he is a part of the current group of GOP reps who were more concerned with getting out and not getting into trouble than helping the party keep the seat. If Weller were truly a team player, he would have announced immediately after he was sworn in last year that he didn’t want to run. He knew the heat was on him and he waited and waited and waited.
I don’t blame Senator Radogno for not running, and I would think Bill Brady to be foolish if he ran. What about Doug Hayse? He did fairly well against Careen Gordon. At least it’s someone to run against Halvorson.
I don’t think picking a county board member would be a good idea. I’m sure there are some good county board people in Will County and the surrounding areas, but it’s way too late to get into the game - especially against a Pelosi-backed candidate like Halvorson.
- Been There - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 4:39 pm:
Marty is either the son, grandson or nephew of Frank Ozinga who was a long time state senator from Evergreen Park back in the 60’s & 70’s. Along with having one of the biggest cement companies in the country their family also use to own 1st Natl.Bank of Evergreen Park before selling it. So, he should have a lot of family dough.
But I also remember their cement company being in the news for getting around some minority set aside programs. Not good press and I am not sure exactly what they did, but it could be an issue.
- Squideshi - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 4:41 pm:
Six Degrees of Separation wrote, “An anti-airport single issue campaign is worth maybe 1,000 votes in the 11th. Thanks for playing, though.”
Ummm… Shut This Airport Nightmare Down (STAND) itself has at least 5,000 members; so I think your calculations are off, at an absolute minimum, by a factor of at least five.
In addition, Jason Wallace is NOT running a single-issue campaign. For you to say that only demonstrates that you haven’t even done a basic amount of research. See some of the issues here.
In any case Jason is connecting not only with rural conservatives in southern Will County but he’s also appealing to people in Grundy County who don’t want the world’s nuclear waste shipped into their communities in order to be “reprocessed” across the street from Dresden. He’s connecting with people who don’t want an expressway built through wetlands. He’s connecting with churches and communities of faith that want to help rebuild the east side of Joliet. He’s connecting with veterans, as he’s the only veteran in this race.
- Cook - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 6:35 pm:
What about Jim Bilotta from Will County. He obtained the most votes for Commissioner last election. Young, smart and can raise the $$$$.
- bluedog demo - Friday, Feb 22, 08 @ 9:49 pm:
Alan Keyes won’t come back and run after Obama smoked him. GOPers could try for the congressman who was just indicted from out West. Believe the GREED crowd is getting the upper hand over the CREED folks in GOPer land !
- CasualObserver - Saturday, Feb 23, 08 @ 1:07 am:
I agree with Squid,
Jason is gonna get some help from this dropout.
Don’t discount the guy, I actually think he will make it a competitive race.
- anon - Saturday, Feb 23, 08 @ 8:21 am:
It will definitely be someone from Will County. Not Cory Singer, the republicans don’t even like him. No carpet baggers, eitther. Maybe Ozinga or a will county judge. Squid, running a no-airport campaign will get you a few thousand votes in eastern Will, but will cost you votes everywhere else and will do way more harm than good. And, I have news, people in eastern Will DO support new expressways– and if Jason opposes that, he will get crushed. My money is on Joe Mikan, but ultimately, nobody will beat Debbie.
- Hanging Chad - Saturday, Feb 23, 08 @ 9:53 am:
Oh, Squshy, STAND has proven themselves completely incapable of election day influence. 5,000 members? I seriously doubt it.
- GOP'er - Saturday, Feb 23, 08 @ 9:59 am:
Mark this one down as a leading indicator of what’s going to happen in November, i.e., the biggest disaster yet for the Illinois GOP statewide. This is what happens when you have no leadership.
- joe - Saturday, Feb 23, 08 @ 4:31 pm:
Those Mayors from the south side are unbelievable. Remember the Mayor from Tinley Park who won election to State office, then quit!!!! Sort of like the fellow who felt pressured to get married, didn’t think it through then wants an annullment saying he didn’t understand what this committment meant!!
Baldermann who was endorsed by that other shameful politician, Weller, should be ashamed of himself and refund everyone who donated to his campaign!!! Balderman, Balderdash!!!!
- John Galt - Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 12:40 am:
Why not bring Jeff Tomczack back? I felt that he was an great man and a good politicain. It was a shame that he was essentially defeated for the actions of his father. Has enough time passed?
I agree that Cory Sanger doesn’t have much of a future beyond where he is at and he is linked at the hip with Weller.
Mikan - now that is a real joke - why not just run Mike Smith or his wife. They are all the same person.
Does it matter even if we win the seat - the state will lose a seat at the next census and with the Dems in power and Illinois shrinking ralative population - why run for a seat that will be eliminated through redistricting if we control it in two years.
The only way that doesnt happen is if they appoint Jerry Weller and he somehow retains his seat.
Sad truth - this seat will be lost in 08 and because we cant win two - if Oberwies wins - he will lose his seat to redistricting on ‘10.