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* We’ll apparently know next month whether to expect a super-hot primary race in Denny Hastert’s district…
Over chicken and beans at a fundraiser here Friday, Rep. Dennis Hastert and local Republican leaders danced around the question of whether the former speaker of the U.S. House will seek a 12th term.
“As far as I’m concerned right now, I’m running,” Hastert said at the more than 500-people event at the Sandwich Fairgrounds. He said he plans to make a formal announcement next month on whether he will enter the 2008 race.
Three other Republicans — State Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and Aurora dairy magnate Jim Oberweis — have formed committees to look into bids for the 14th District nomination if Hastert chooses not to seek it. […]
But former State Sen. Robert Mitchler, also active in the Republican Party, said he would prefer to see Hastert serve “at least one more term” than watch a divisive fight for the party nomination.
* Meanwhile, Alderman Manny Flores has turned in some impressive fundraising numbers, considering the district…
n the last election cycle, luis gutierrez raised $161,593 while spending $315,779 (a great deal of it contributing to other candidates). luis has told me in the past that it’s very difficult to raise money coming from his district, and i suspect he’s told others that, as well.
the message didn’t make it to manny flores. flores reports that he raised $478,029 in the second quarter, more than twice as much as the next leading candidate. roberto maldonado raised $182,857 in Q2. ricky munoz loaned his campaign $148,000 and took out another $49,000 in loans, which brought his fund-raising numbers up to $309,506.
flores ends the reporting period with the COH advantage ($436,117, $308,456 for munoz and $166,761 for maldonado). what is surprising is that flores’ numbers puts him above every other democratic challenger to date.
Go check the above link to see the breakdowns.
* Congressman Gutierrez hasn’t filed a campaign finance disclosure report yet.
* Was Footlik misquoted?
* Mark Pera gets an earful on health coverage. [Fixed link.]
* This is a 2008 congressional campaign open thread.
*** UPDATE *** Lynn Sweet reports that Hastert has just $75,673 in his campaign warchest.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 8:49 am
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I was suprised to see no Hastert in yesterday’s West Chicago Railroad Days Parade. He has been there every other year. Jotham Stein was there as was Bill Foster. Laesch wasn’t there, but his campaign workers were. The three Dems are obviously running, but no sign of Denny.
You know, now with this February primary, there is no off year where there is a parade with no politicians there :-
Comment by train111 Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 8:54 am
Hastert is such a dinosaur, I can’t believe the people in his district still vote for him.
Is he even able to march in a parade? Could be arrogance, could be indifference (that he didn’t show up) but this man is way, way past his retirement date.
His constituents need to join the 21st century, whichever party they choose.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 8:57 am
I wonder how much of Munoz money came from his father selling ID’s to illeagal aliens. Munoz Dad is under federal indictment I hope the feds follow the money.
Comment by FED UP Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 8:59 am
Hey FED,
Instead of wondering why don’t you look it up? There is no alderman more honest and upstanding then Ric Munoz. Whatever problems his father has is not relevant to this discussion and your unsubstantiated insinuation is typical for you.
Comment by Bill Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 9:05 am
munoz only *raised* a little over 100k. most of his money came from loans…
Comment by bored now Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 9:06 am
the link to the pera story isn’t going through…
Comment by anon Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 9:15 am
Anyone know who might be mounting a run against Rep. Hare, freshman from the 17th. Im looking for Republicans
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 9:19 am
Pera link is fixed. Thanks for the heads up.
Also, I doubt that Hare will be even a Tier Three target.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 9:26 am
It would be foolish for a GOP candidate to try and take out Hastert. Hastert could wipe out anyone in the primary.
As for Hare, the only person that I think could take him out is Jim Mowen, and I don’t think he’s going to run. It’s a pity, though, because I think Mowen would be a good candidate. As long as Zinga doesn’t run, we’re all safe.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 10:01 am
I heard that if Hassert retires now his federal pension will be based on his former speaker’s salary. If he runs again and wins that will drop drastically to his new salary. Any truth to this because if so he won’t run again you can be assured.
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 10:11 am
he’s already passed that date…
Comment by bored now Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 10:29 am
I had heard the same thing, Anon, but Hastert’s people told me it wasn’t true.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 10:32 am
I’m told that Hastert has been busy placing all of his old political staff elsewhere, keeping them on a payroll. So that’s evidence he’s not intending to run again.
But I could certainly see him deciding to sit around for another term, just to spite Chris Lauzen. Hastert and his people are all about pettiness. They hate Lauzen and they don’t appear to have a candidate who could stop him.
Comment by GOP'er Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 10:52 am
Jim Mowen has fled the state, so he will not be running against Hare
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 11:08 am
I respect Rick Munoz, but I really like Manny Flores. I volunteered for him on his run-off election day in April at a Ukrainaian community center. The place was surrounded by an overwhelming number of regular Democratic organization volunteers supporting the incumbent alderman Jesse Granato. They were all very civil and seemd pretty happy that they were turning out all their supporters.
I assumed that Flores/I were getting our brains kicked in.I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Flores prevailed that day - I didn’t know anyuthing about 1st Ward politics. ( Daley had destroyed Meigs the night before.)
I have not been following Flores performance as Alderman. I assume he has been doing a good job.
His fundraising numbers are impressive. My guess is he could be elected as LG’s successor because he has appeal to the non-Latino swing voters,after splitting the Latino base with Maldonado and Munuz. But what I don’t know about Latino politics could fill a book.
Munoz will have some appeal to liberal independent voters. Don’t know who the African -Americans in the Distirct might prefer.
My first impression of Manny Flores was that he might be elected Mayor of Chicago some day. Again I don’t know if hea has lived up to his initial promise because I haven’t followed his performance as Alderman.But I may send him a very modest contribution to him sometime soon.
Comment by Captain America Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 11:14 am
I’ve heard that too, GOP’er. Hastert had a staffer down in Carbondale to work on Cole’s race, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some of his staffers are elsewhere and working on various campaigns. He has had some great staff over the years, and if he has one foot out the door it only makes sense to push them into better positions or something different.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 11:37 am
Bill are you tired of helping blago with his make up and are now defending a man whos father has made huge money selling illeagal ids to illeagal aliens. Im sure none of dads illeagal money found its way to munoz.
Comment by FED UP Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 11:58 am
Throw out the old and bring in the new. I’m fed up with the pols at all levels of government.
Comment by i d Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 12:04 pm
Since his Party he wrongly has whipped,
Chris Lauzen can expect to be gypped.
Keep an eye on that Tony,
If the State’s thing is phony,
Then he’s running against Little Lip.
Comment by Limerick Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 12:10 pm
The statement that Hastert hates Lauzen is an UNDERSTATEMENT. He will do anything to keep the seat from Lauzen. $63,000 may be a paultry amount of campaign $$, but with his name ID, no other GOP candidate can touch him. $63K or $163K, Denny cruises to another win. However, he will need more $$ to beat the DEM.
Comment by grotberg's spirit Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 12:14 pm
Limerick: No doubt he has a better shot at it, especially after the possibility of a Devine Deception.
Comment by I Wrote In Krista Grimm Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 12:20 pm
Pera and Peraica could be the nominees in the 3rd; not unlike 1992 when Bill Lipinski ran against Harry Lepinske.
Comment by Yikes Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 2:45 pm
…and I re-read the rules of The Blog. I think Peracia could easily win the GOP nomination for 3rd Congressional ,and has at least an even chance of winning the General Election against the sitting U.S. Congressman.
Comment by I Wrote In Krista Grimm Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 5:48 pm
Alan Augustson (G) is running for Congress in the 5th District, Steve Alesch (G) in the 13th, and Dave Kalbfleisch in the 10th. I expect several more Green congressional candidates moving forward.
Comment by Squideshi Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 6:51 pm
Lauzen’s real arch enemy is Dallas Ingemunson, Hastert’s mentor who reportedly refuses to shake Lauzen’s hand. Lauzen and Hastert don’t see eye to eye on everything, and Lauzen supposedly doesn’t care for Hastert’s pet “legacy” project, the Prairie Parkway and might try to divert the money to some other use if he were ever elected to Congress. Lauzen feigns respect for Hastert, but gets in his little digs whenever he can get away with them.
I don’t really care what happens in the 14th, but all of the above-named politicians should be mummified, they’ve been around so long. That well-heeled Democrat or Linda Chapa LaVia might have as good a chance as anyone if it is an open seat if they stake out moderate and well-crafted positions that would appeal to the hinterlands as well as Aurora. I agree Hastert wins if he runs, and could call in old favors and raise a million easily if he needed to.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 6:58 pm
To I Wrote In Krista Grimm , your comment about Periaca might be true, but Peraica will be defeated for his cook county commission post by either the current mayor of Stone Park, Ben Mazzulla or his stone park trustee Jesse Martinez!
Also rumor has it Danny Davis will have an opponent from the democratic side by either Forest Park trustee Haskins or 209 board president Chris Welch!!
Should be interesting!
Comment by Insider Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 8:48 pm
Can somebody please get an actual statement from Congressman Gutierrez if he really plans to retire? I mean this congressman always says things and then changes his mine(ex:attacking daley and then endorsing him).
I don’t think that Congressman Gutierrez will retire now,especially with a democratic takeover of congress!!
I did hear a rumor of Congressman Gutierrez running again and if Hillary or Obama winning ,he would be named head of INS(a cabinet postion) and then would be able to basically name his replacement.The deal is suppose to be with Congressman Gutierrez, Daley,Clinton and Danny Solis, so Solis can be the congressman and Congressman Gutierrez getting a higher paying job with less traveling back and forth from washington.Sounds like A DOUBLE cross is in the making, considering Solis’s sister is head of Hillary’s campaign and Dasley loves Solis, and wants somebody he can tell what to do!
Comment by Humboldt Park Monday, Jul 16, 07 @ 8:57 pm