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News and views on a couple of primaries

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Illinois

* Both of these endorsements are important in a Democratic primary, and neither will come with a whole lot of cash….

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Tuesday he will back Geneva scientist Bill Foster, and the Illinois AFL-CIO announced its support for Yorkville carpenter John Laesch in the 14th Congressional District Democratic primary election.

“As a scientist and businessman, Bill Foster will be a voice for common sense solutions in Congress,” Durbin said in a statement. “I’m proud to lend him my support and I look forward to working with Bill Foster to bring an end to the war in Iraq, pass affordable health care for all Americans and end our dependence on foreign oil.”

On Feb. 5, Foster will compete with Laesch, Genevan Joe Serra and St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein for the Democratic nomination to fill the seat formerly held by Rep. Dennis Hastert. […]

Also on Tuesday, the state AFL-CIO announced its backing for Laesch, who ran against Hastert in the 2006 general election.

The AFL-CIO listed the union carpenter among a group of national and local candidates the organization said “have long track records of standing up for workers’ rights, workplace safety, education, healthcare for all, fair trade and corporate accountability.”

Laesch is probably still struggling to gain some credibility after his gaffe-filled race in 2006, so the endorsement will help a lot. Foster has a hill to climb on name recognition, which Laesch already has because of the ‘06 bid, so the Durbin endorsement will help there.

* Meanwhile, Jim Oberweis was interviewed this week…

“I think there’s pretty good name recognition for the Oberweis name,” Oberweis said. “In fact, as I go door to door, It’s not unusual for people to, before I’m able to introduce myself, say ‘I know you.’”

I wonder what they say right after that. Anyway, back to the interview…

“As I’ve gone door to door, I’ve asked people what’s on their mind, and I really expected the war in Iraq to be the number one issue, and it wasn’t,” Oberweis said. “In fact, illegal immigration was the number one issue on people’s minds. I would say I get more questions on illegal immigration than on all other issues combined.”

People often hear what they want to hear, but he’s walking doors and I’m not, so I’ll take his word for it.

“I’m really an entrepreneur. I have really spent my life in business,” Oberweis said. “I’m not really a politician, and I never will be a politician.”

The jokes write themselves.

Oberweis is also attempting to assume the mantle of Denny Hastert, as this quote makes obvious…

Besides vying for the 14th Congressional seat, Oberweis also has run for state governor and [US] senate. He said he became interested in politics after Hastert encouraged him to run for [US] senate.

“My response was, ‘Well if Denny Hastert asks me to run and Peter Fitzgerald wants me to run and other Republicans want me to run, sure.’ I thought that was my way of saying no. But, two days later, I got a call from Denny Hastert asking me to get involved,” Oberweis said. “Since then, I have learned more. I have become more discouraged with the condition of the Republican party in Illinois, and I have become more and more committed to helping change that direction and trying to get candidates who are involved to serve the public instead of people who are involved to make money off of politic

Oberweis also promised to build an ice cream shop in the DeKalb-Sycamore area.

* In other news…

* Seals Beats Out Footlik For AFL-CIO Primary Endorsement

* Democrat Scott Harper Gets AFL-CIO Endorsement In IL-13

* Jill Morgenthaler Gets Key Labor Endorsement In IL-6

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 9:46 am

Comments

Obie really needs to hire himself some really savvy political advisors, find issues and positions more popular in Illinois than in Wyoming, and stick to them. I hope all the millions he’s wasting away on doomed political campaigns don’t force his dairy to cheap out on the ingredients that make it’s ice cream so yummy.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 9:56 am
The Republican Party in Illinois has been/is in terrible shape because of several factors,but chief among them, they got fat/lazy in their heyday…..never developed a “bench” or invested in their “farm system”. What happens in such cases: You get guys like Oberweis taking you down yet further.

Comment by Former Publican Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 10:07 am
Please, Jim, get back in that helicopter and announce to the whole world that you are opposed to illegal immigration. Clearly, based on constiruent feedback, its the surest way to the office you seek.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 10:10 am
ever developed a “bench” or invested in their “farm system

Can you say “fab five”? Problem is, those guys were too independent for the mainstream Rs.

But Lauzen is still available *^^*.

immigration

Well, when I was getting my petitions signed, I was surprised how many people mentioned that as an issue.

i thinks it goes to tbe very basic American value of “play fair”. People are tired of rule breaking.

Comment by Pat Collins Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 10:14 am
===and I never will be a politician.===

Foreshadowing at its finest. I vote for oberweiss to play the tin man in Oz.

There is a QOTD for yah Rich, ask people which politicians are most like which oz characters (Dorothy, toto, lion, tin man, scarecrow)

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 10:15 am
Oh my goodness, Obie is the gift that keeps on giving. I never used to buy Oberweis, but now I do all the time. It’s good milk and it helps fund a most worthy cause for Democrats. He could win this thing. NRCC wants to cut its financial commitments, and is looking for self-funders.

Comment by ZC Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 10:17 am
Sorry, I won’t take him at his word.

I can’t believe that with people losing their homes to foreclosure, not being able to afford gas for their cars, not having adequate public transit because of lack of funding, and taxes soaring in the city and Cook County — that their number one concern is whether another immigrant gets across the border.

More likely, they recognize Obie as the pinhead who made those scary commercials and who is obsessed with illegal immigration and that’s why they bring it up. If Brian Urlacher were to visit your home, would you bring up professional basketball or Darfur? No, you’ld bring up the Bears. Same difference.

Comment by Wanna get away Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 11:13 am
Obie will win the special election due to his $$$. I know Foster has a lot of cash as well, but the district is “leans R” - no, not pirate - and the Brian Bilbray election of a couple years ago in San Diego is a primer for Obie. Hopefully, he pays attention to what went right and wrong in that election.

Immigration is a huge issue. Paul Tsongas’ widow barely won an open Congressional seat in Massachussetts over an unknown candidate because voters in Mass are sick and tired of illegal immigration and the effects it has on New England communities. Immigration policy and concerns are now as big of an elephant in the room as Social Security, Medicare, mortgage bailouts and the AMT.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 11:31 am
It’s pretty christian of his detractors to give Oberweis this race.

Comment by True Observer Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 11:48 am
Wanna get away…I doubt if the good people of Bureau, Lee and La Salle counties in the 14th are too concerned about the soaring taxes in Cook County and Chicago. I’m not sure immigration plays real strong out there, but it will play in the western exurbs of the 14th, which is why Lauzen is also making it an issue. I will also say that an ice cream shop in DeKalb/Sycamore would be worth a few votes, but geez, I thought Blair Hull had cornered the market on expensive primary votes.

Also - AFL-CIO’s endorsement of Laesch is a surprise. Either they’re seeing something not apparent to most people here, or they’ve already written off the district.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 11:48 am
I don’t think milk money will be enough for Obie to win this lunch ticket.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 12:15 pm
And in 2006, Obie promised to put an Oberweis Dairy in Springfield whether he won or not. Nobody buy into the Oberweis Dairy coming to a town near you argument, just another broken promise.

Comment by Broken Promises Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 3:44 pm
Six Degrees,
AFL-CIO sees the Democratic nominee, John Laesch, and this is a Dem that the state can and should be proud of. He is what everyone says they are looking for. If you haven’t seen it,then you are not looking. He is not going away, so take the look.. You will respect what you see.

Comment by from the collars Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 6:22 pm
I think the DeKalb store is under construction. Also they franchise now so as for the Springfield location that may have been a franchise issue.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 11:39 pm
Laesch’s endoresment is no surprise. Foster, although a fine man, does not connect like Laesch does with people. Laesch worked this group hard and it clearly paid off. It is refreshing to see that the ability to self-fund did not determine this endorsement.

Comment by 14th observer Thursday, Dec 6, 07 @ 8:32 am
Laesch’s endorsement is no surprise. Foster, although a fine man, does not connect like Laesch does with people. Laesch worked this group hard and it clearly paid off. It is refreshing to see that the ability to self-fund did not determine this endorsement.

Comment by 14th observer Thursday, Dec 6, 07 @ 8:33 am