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Lots of congressional stuff

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* Jerry Weller may be getting a Republican primary challenge…

A Bloomington man plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller of Morris for the Republican nomination in the 11th District.

Jason King, a systems analyst, announced plans to challenge Weller for the nomination in the 2008 Republican primary.

“For the past 12 years U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, has continued to run unopposed as the Republican candidate, and it is time for a change,” King said in a press release.

King’s website is here.

* Meanwhile, a Democrat who’s talking about challenging Weller is turning up the heat a bit…

The man who has already stated he is launching a “serious exploration” into a run for the 11th Congressional District is citing Congressman Jerry Weller’s dealings in Central American as a prime reason for his potential campaign.

Kankakee Community College President Jerry Weber said Saturday that this issue with Weller is further evidence of the “arrogance” that has infected the Congress, in general, and Weller in particular.

* In a different race, there now appears to be three Republicans who want to challenge Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean…

The Republican primary race to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Barrington, is now three deep as Gurnee resident Kirk Morris announced he will run in the Feb. 5 primary .

Morris, 49, whose son U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Geoffrey Morris, 19, died in Iraq in April 2004, said he came to his decision partly because of his son.

* Lauzen to officially enter race as Oberweis woos Hastert crowd…

Lauzen said he intends to differentiate himself from Oberweis by focusing on his electoral victories, his independence and his experience. Oberweis’s strategists see their candidate as the GOP front-runner and intend to set up his contrast with the Democrats versus running against Lauzen.

“I’ve been doing for 15 years what Jim promises to do in campaigns,” Lauzen said. “The other thing is that I win campaigns; Jim loses them. … He’s spent $7.5 million to lose three campaigns.”

Oberweis is resisting any comparisons to Lauzen and is focusing on saving the district from Democratic takeover.

“I’m not running against Chris Lauzen; I’m running against the Democrats,” Oberweis said. “I think there’s a reasonable chance, a year from now, they’re going to look around and say, ‘Boy, wouldn’t we love to embarrass the former speaker by electing a Democrat?’”

* More congressional stuff, compiled by Paul…

* Giannoulias endorses Foster in IL-14; more here

* PeoriaPundits: Bill Edley for the 18th District?

* PeoriaPundits: Mconoughey announces bid for 18th district

* Judge not ready for toll Congressional race might have

* Davis kicks off campaign for U.S. House reelection

* Hastert’s departure coincides with unsettled future for House Republicans

This is a 2008 congressional open thread.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 8:06 am

Comments

1. Two links? I am honored …

   Comment by Billy Dennis Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 9:48 am

2. And nobody cares. I knew I should’ve put these links in Morning Shorts.

   Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 10:40 am

3. Rich, I care. Doesn’t that count for something? HA!

   Weller needs to lose. I hate rooting against Congressional members of my own party, but he is a trainwreck waiting to happen. I know his district is gerrymandered like crazy, but if someone tough runs he could fall. I hope Mr. King runs a respectible primary race.

   Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 10:47 am

4. In the 8th CD, Libertarian Ken Arnold had an outside chance of upsetting the better-funded Steve Greenberg in the primary. Now that Kirk Morris announced, there are two candidates running to the right of Greenburg. At the very least, Greenburg should send a thankyou to Morris.

   Comment by ElaObserver Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 12:27 pm

5. Team Sleep,

   I know how you feel about rooting against those on your own team. How do you think I feel with Lip II as a congressperson? On the bright side, he will have a primary challenger, on the dim side, it looks like he’ll have more than one and that just splits the anti-Lip vote and probably ensures we continue being “represented” by him.

   Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 12:28 pm

6. I agree, Cermak. Sometimes, it takes a beatdown to realize what went wrong and what is needed to correct a situation. In the case of Weller, the GOP needs to realize he can be or currently is a problem. In Lip’s situation, maybe a loss by Lil Lipper will wake up the people who think generational transfers of power are always a good thing.

   Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 2:20 pm

7. Lauzen is right. He wins tough primaries. Oberweis loses every primary. History will repeat

   Comment by GOP 14th Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 3:37 pm

8. I took a look at King’s website - while I agree with him that Weller deserves a challenge, a pro-choice, pro-illegal immigrant candidate is not a good fit for that district. Good luck to him.

   In the 8th, it sounds as though Greenberg will have a serious challenger for the nomination. Morris seems to be a good candidate that will make this a close race. Ken Arnold will not clear more than 2% of the vote, the same he got in 2006.

   Lauzen will not be able to overcome Oberweis’ millions, unless he is able to organize that volunteer base into a strong grassroots organization.

   McConoughey could give Schock a real run for the nomination, if he self-funds part of his campaign.

   Comment by Super Mega Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 3:43 pm

9. What gets me about weller is the ethics. While he has brought a lot of money into the district, my vote will no longer go to him.

   Also does anybody know if he owns a house within the district? I heard a rumor that he rents.

   Comment by Huh? Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 4:45 pm

10. Edley currently has one of those “made for a Democrat who lost an election/resigned/retired, but really doesn’t know anything” positions. His is with DOC - and he is a budget guy - just because he was on the budget committee for a couple years. As Cassandra would say, certainly not qualified for the $100,000+ salary he probably receives without being capable of doing anything related to his position.

    Comment by Peaches Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 5:20 pm

11. Lauzen is being pupated by Jon Zahm. Enough said. Lauzen will loose. Too bad Zahm, I guess you will go back to your sinecure job with the County Clerk. Also, JOIN was wrong; the new jail was the right thing for Kane County.

    Comment by Dundee Monday, Sep 10, 07 @ 5:36 pm

12. I’m just wondering how you got it that King was a pro choice pro immigrant candidate? It seemed to me by his policy points he was neither….

    Comment by Mike Tuesday, Sep 11, 07 @ 7:49 am

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