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Coach Versace might run for Congress

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Illinois

* This might be fun to watch…

Former Bradley and NBA basketball coach Dick Versace is considering a run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria.

“This is an exploratory thing,” said Versace, a Democrat who is 67 and has a home in Peoria and another outside Canton. He said he is gauging support for his candidacy before making a final decision. […]

Versace said this is an opportune time for a Democrat to win the seat held by LaHood, who will retire in January 2009. […]

Among other Democrats considering candidacies in the district are 4th District Appellate Court Judge Sue Myerscough of Springfield, former state Rep. Bill Edley of Peoria and Springfield, and Peoria civil rights attorney Patricia Benassi.

* Meanwhile, a sacrificial lamb has emerged in another district…

A Naperville native is moving from the ivory tower to the rough and tumble world of politics.

Democrat Scott Harper, a doctoral student at Oxford University, is postponing his thesis to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert in the 2008 election.

Harper, 46, attended Naperville Central High School and later Wheaton College. After obtaining an MBA from the University of Chicago, he worked in auto manufacturing and technology before starting up a marketing and Web site development firm, which he later sold to investors.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I sold my interest in the business.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 10:17 am

Comments

Nobody cares? Huh.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 11:31 am
I posted on Prairie State Blue.

Versace’s dad was a West Point grad, as was his brother who was killed in Viet Nam. His mother was a noted author.

Versace has media experience, name recognition and a little money.

If he doesn’t commit any novice screw-ups Aaron Schock will have to work to beat Versace. And if it’s a good year for Democrats Versace could win.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 11:52 am
What, the couldn’t find anyone older to run against Schock? 67 and never held office vs. 26 up and coming state rep. I don’t see his candidacy going very far.

Comment by Gene Parmesan Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 11:55 am
Judy Biggert is a RINO. Nice lady, but her opponent is not necessarily a “sacrificial lamb.” People in those area are not sensitive to economy/military issues. They are sensitive to what color they are painting the “gift-wrapping” room.

And Daddy comes home from the train; beaten, emasulated, brainwashed and ready to do whatever his free-spending, hyphenated-surname shrew of a wife tells him to do with the money he earned by going to “sensitivity seminars” and moving pieces of paper from one area to another.

More and more, culturally, they are Democrats due to the MSM brainwashing.

Kirk will lose as well.

Hinsdale, like most of the suburbs, used to be a lot different.

Comment by Go Red Devils...Not. Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 12:03 pm
The Egghead will crack under the pressure Biggert’s team will apply. Don’t let your children watch; it won’t be pretty.

Comment by The Blogger Formerly Known As Anonymous Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 12:05 pm
I take a possible Dick Versace candidacy almost as seriously as when Mike Ditka considered a run for Senate in ‘04.

Comment by Central Illinoisan Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 12:05 pm
Anybody want to rank the seats from most likely to change hands/parties to least likely?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 12:38 pm
“What, the couldn’t find anyone older to run against Schock? 67 and never held office vs. 26 up and coming state rep. I don’t see his candidacy going very far.”

What they couldn’t find anyone younger to run than Schock? A 67 year old guy who has made a career of observing and working a team apporach versus a 26 year old who has an agenda of his own and who will use the job as a rung on the ladder instead of serving the people of the 18th as they see fit? I don’t see his candidacy going very far.

Comment by Frank Cheddar Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 12:59 pm
Anybody want to rank the seats from most likely to change hands/parties to least likely?

I’m frankly skeptical any will shift, but likely? Well:

Kirk

(gap)

Hastert’s old seat

(gap)

LaHood’s old seat
Bean

That’s about it I guess.

That’s more about Red Devil’s home life than I ever wanted to know.

Comment by Some Guy Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 1:59 pm
Carl, I the seats that are safer than safe include JJJ, Emanuel, Shimkus, Costello, Manzullo, Hare, Schakowsky, Rush, Davis, Guitierrez, Biggert ,Roskam and Johnson. I think the campaigns involving Kirk, Weller, the nominees that will vie to replace LaHood and Hastert and Bean could all be interesting races. Lipinski is the toss-up as he could be beaten in the primary, but does that count?

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:10 pm
As I said before, this is a three-way race.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:12 pm
Dick Versace would have the best hair in the House. Seriously, I don’t know his chances as a rookie candidate in the district, but he’s a polished media veteran who would run a high-profile race. Not sure how deep his appeal would be in the district, but the campaign would be interesting.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:12 pm
I meant to say “I think”. That was a “derrr” moment.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:14 pm
Squid, I appreciate all your reminders, but what was the highest percentage any of your congressional candidates received in Illinois last year?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:16 pm
Frank, a “career of observing and working a team approach” sounds great. Will this 67 year old freshmen representative go to Washington to lead the Dem’s and make them a team? Not too likely. If this guy can self fund he’s worth throwing out there, but I think the D’s would be better off spending their money going after Kirk or Roskam, and protecting Bean and Lipinksi. It ain’t gonna be hard to sell fresh blood, new ideas, and youth given the political climate on the state and federal levels. If the “rung on the ladder” is the best defense Versace can use, he’s doomed, provided he even wins the primary.

Comment by Gene Parmesan Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:17 pm
Dick will probably do pretty well. Illinois voters like politicians with stupid looking hairdos.

Comment by Bill Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:41 pm
“Illinois voters like politicians with stupid looking hairdos.” Too bad all the hairspray seems to have such a toxic effect on one’s brain, however.

Comment by Sarge Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:57 pm
Thank you Boone, that’s true, but what I was saying was a direct response to Gene. If Schock’s best campaign memo is ‘Dick Versace is old’, then he’s got trouble too.

I’m sure both candidates will do much better, but again my response was directed at another commentator, not Schock himself.

Also, as for the 3-way race stuff, the way some parties poll in Congressional races, often it’s a 1-way race.

Comment by Frank Cheddar Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 3:21 pm
Rich, with the Democrats in control of Congress and largely enabling the Bush administration on the Iraq War and eviscerating civil liberties, the dynamic has changed from the 2006 elections.

Greens can reasonably argue that unless Democrats feel threatened by the Greens or Libertarians they will continue to support a strong presidency that is–in the eyes of most activists who aren’t devoted authoritarians–not grounded in the U.S. Constitution.

Besides, if no one is going to vote for the Greens, what harm is it to include them in political coverage?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 3:22 pm
Good point, Carl. Still, I’d like my question answered.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 3:29 pm
Versace’s popularity in Central Illinois peaked over 20 years ago. The everyday man in this area isn’t carrying a torch for Versace to run. He had some pretty good, but not great, Bradley teams. I imagine he’s being pumped up by a few rabid, backslapping Bradley boosters.

He and his wife have done some good work in revitalizing buildings in downtown Canton. He’ll likely continue splitting his time between Canton and Chicago and pass on a Congressional race.

Comment by Central Illinoisan Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 3:43 pm
My wife and I used to look forward to Dick Versace’s old appearances on Sunday night’s “Sports Extra” show on NBC-5 in Chicago. The guy seemed to be on the show solely to drop names and nothing more - we used to count his name drops while laughing hysterically. “Well I spoke to Michael Jordan last night and was telling him about the time I was golfing with Larry Bird and then Isaiah Thomas walked in and I told him….” He’d be a hoot!

Comment by BigDog Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 4:36 pm