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* I seriously doubt that Lauzen’s name is being floated by anyone who would have a vote in the matter, but this shows you how weird things can get in times like this….
State Sen. Chris Lauzen has not considered a November congressional run in a nearby district where the Republican nominee plans to drop out the race — at least not yet.
“Let me give that some thought,” he said Saturday when asked if he would be interested in taking over for New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, who said he will withdraw from the race in the 11th Congressional District after winning the GOP nomination earlier this month.
Lauzen was among several area officials listed in a Saturday Sun-Times story as possible replacements for Baldermann, who announced Friday he would drop out of the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller. The Aurora state senator finished second in a February primary for the Republican nod in the 14th Congressional District race to succeed U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert.
* Considering how poorly both of Baldermann’s opponents did in the primary, this looks like a shot in the dark…
Among those who may be considered are New Lenox resident Tery Heenan and Jimmy Lee of North Utica, both of whom sought the nomination in the Feb. 5 primary.
* And since Sen. Radogno would have to give up her seat to run and passed up the opportunity a few months ago, I’m not sure that she should be considered a prime contender either…
Local Republicans on Friday mentioned a few names to replace Baldermann, starting with state Sen. Christine Radogno of Lemont. But Radogno, who is seeking re-election to the senate, said she would not be a candidate. “We will need a candidate who can raise money, has some experience and who reflects the views of the district,” she said.
* So, who will it be?
Names being floated to replace Baldermann include… state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington and former Will County Board Executive Joe Mikan.
Brady, like Radogno, took a pass on a primary bid, as did Mikan.
* Um, no…
David McAloon, a Republican candidate for state representative in the 75th District, said he would be very interested in switching to the congressional race.
* The bottom line is that the bigwigs are looking for a self funder…
Party sources said money is going to be key in what national political observers say will be the among the 10 most competitive house races for Congress. GOP sources also stressed that they want to find a new candidate — who would be seeking to follow the retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller of Morris — with good name recognition and experience, whether in government or business.
* As I told you Friday…
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.
* A self-funder is more evidence that the Republicans are seriously worried about losing this district.
* Meanwhile…
In light of Baldermann’s withdrawal, CQ Politics has changed its rating on the Illinois 11 race to Democrat Favored from No Clear Favorite. […]
The Republicans do have the opportunity, though, to make a more competitive contest out of it by November — if they can persuade a strong candidate to make a prompt decision to enter the race. […]
Finding a new, strong candidate from scratch this late in the campaign may be difficult for the Republicans, though, especially since Halvorson has a sizable head start on fundraising and could benefit from the increased possibility that the presidential candidate at the top of the Democratic ticket may be Illinois Sen.
* And in other congressional news…
* Foster, Oberweis engage in first debate
* More here on the debate
* In Hastert country, new name rakes it in: So far, Democrat G. William Foster, a former Fermilab physicist and small-business man, has beat his GOP rival, dairy and investment firm executive James D. Oberweis, in the money race by about $100,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Each also put roughly $1.4 million of his own funds into the campaign for the March 8 special election.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Oops. I forgot to mention that Rep. Renee Kosel’s name is also being floated. Not sure yet if the party is interested, but she may be.
*** UPDATE 2 *** The Kankakee Daily Journal just posted a story with this headline…
Baldermann exit a head scratcher
Please.
It’s not that difficult to figure out. Remember this story from late January?
“I have done very little fundraising,” [GOP candidate Tim Baldermann] said. “It makes me sick to my stomach. My campaign people gave me a list of people who gave money to (Weller). I told them, ‘If you think I’m going to call somebody who’s never heard of me and ask for $2,300, that’s insane.’ I fight with them every single day over it.
“They wanted my Christmas card list. I’m not doing that stuff. I refuse to do it. The Republican Party wanted me to run; the Republican Party should help fund my campaign.”
The writing has long been on the wall.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:06 am
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Perhaps Balderman is persona non grata amongst Republicans now!
Comment by Levois Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:11 am
Congressional Repubs have so much on their plate, looks like they’re going to let this one go.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:15 am
I heard that Foster pulled out of the Elgin League forum on Wed…
Comment by OneManBlog Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:16 am
Seriously, that’s just wrong for a guy to run and win a primary and then drop out 3 weeks later. I don’t know the guy and don’t live in the district, but that’s pathetic. He should be publicly flogged. Nobody made him run. Didn’t he think about all he needed to do before running?
I saw him on TV on primary night, he was all gung-ho.
I’d love to find a way to blame Weller for turning this seat over to the Democrats, but Balderman has now staked his claim for a portion of it. Although I think Debbie would have beaten him and anyone else no matter what of course, so it’s a rhetorical argument anyway.
Still Balderman should be publicly flogged.
Maybe it’s time for Jack Ryan to re-enter politics! Doesn’t he own businesses in the district? Come everyone “Jack Jack Jack Jack . . .”
Comment by Napoleon has left the building Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:19 am
Kosel won’t appeal to conservatives. Mikan has enough name recognition to give it a run, if he can raise the cash (which I think he would).
Ozinga is intriguing.
Comment by Fire Ron Guenther Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:33 am
Why would Sen. Radogno need to give up her state senate seat to run? Sen. Lauzen didn’t give up his seat to run for the 14th. Speaking of Lauzen, he could’ve been a partial self funder for the 11th if he hadn’t spent a small fortune running in the 14th, and it is doubtful he’d want to risk losing 3 elections within a year to run here. Ozinga looks like the best bet at this point for the R’s to even get in the game, but Deb is going to have national $ coming in to help secure this seat. Speaking of Baldermann, a few R’s obvously took the old saying too closely to heart - “If you want something done, ask a busy man to do it.”
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:39 am
===Why would Sen. Radogno need to give up her state senate seat to run? Sen. Lauzen didn’t give up his seat to run for the 14th.===
Because terms are staggered. Lauzen wasn’t up, but Radogno is. C’mon, get with the program.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 10:44 am
Run, Chris, run! If he wins, he’ll have to move, right?
Comment by Stuck with Sen. CPA Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 11:52 am
This will just be one of many seats a hapless Illinois GOP will lose in November, at the state and federal level. 2008 will make Repubs remember the 2006 disaster as “the good year.”
Comment by GOP'er Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 11:53 am
How about Judy Barr Topinka? Or Jim Edgar? Maybe George W. (he’ll be looking for a job…)
Speculation gets way out of hand when you don’t need to live in the district unless you win.
The Republicans would be wise to focus on helping Oberweis & Schock become better candidates to hold those seats.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 12:34 pm
C’mon, get with the program.
I learn sump’n new every day here.
If he wins, he’ll have to move, right?
Not for a US Congressional seat. I think Melissa Bean still lives out of District in the 8th. However, there is a little portion of Aurora that is actually in Will County and the 11th, so it’s not that big a stretch.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 12:59 pm
:)
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 1:03 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:IL-1
1_congressional_district.gif
Looking at this map, on second thought I don’t think the Will County portion of Aurora touches the 11th, but it’s pretty close.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 1:04 pm
All of LaSalle Co. is in the 11th Congressional District, and northeastern LaSalle Co. is in St. Sen. Lauzen’s district (25th). If Lauzen doesn’t want to run, the party leaders should ask St. Sen. Dale Risinger, of Peoria. He’s in the middle of his senate term, and part of his senate district (37th) is in the 11th District.
Comment by PhilCollins Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 1:29 pm
Phil,
I know and like Dale (who is from Peoria), but I think the party leaders would want a suburban presence for the 11th, preferably Will County, because that’s where the votes are.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 2:07 pm
I know Senator Radogno, and she likes being in the state senate as well as where she currently lives. Plus, Judy Biggert won’t serve forever, and Senator Radogno resides in the 13th CD.
I wish primary voters would have read that news story where Baldermann expressed doubt and seemingly cold feet. It would have been a great hit piece for Heenan and Lee to run. Instead, now the GOP is stuck scrambling. Boy, does history repeat itself!
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 2:46 pm
Another feather in Andy McKenna’s hat — or is it in his mouth?
He is the most feckless State Chairman in memory, and I believe he still harbors an idea to run for something in 2010. Thus all these ideas about self funding. Republican nominationa should be the province of the Rich and I do not mean our genial host.
Comment by Truthful James Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 2:56 pm
McKenna lives in Rep. Kirk’s district. McKenna probably hopes that, in 2010, Kirk will run for the U.S. Senate or governor. If that happens, McKenna would run for Congress. Whom should the next IL GOP chairman be? I think that the next chairman should be a conservative who has been a county party chairman and an elected official. Jo Ann Osmond and Maureen Murphy would be good choices.
Comment by PhilCollins Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 4:01 pm
I’m always curious regarding the posters who say the GOP in Illinois needs a “real” Conservative leader. I’m wondering who the last one was?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 4:05 pm
Wordslingser-
Peter Fitzgerald was probably the last “conservative” elected statewide, but he was not a real party builder. Lots of failures before and after like Judy Koehler, Alan Keyes, Jim Ryan, etc. Most would put Edgar, Thompson, Percy, etc. in a moderate or RINO class. Even Ogilvie, who otherwise was somewhat conservative, fell out of favor with his introduction of the state income tax. IL is not a friendly place for the right of center except in certain pockets, and even in places like the western suburbs where conservative US Congressmen like Hyde and Crane got elected, conservative politics is currently losing its grip. The Reagan Revolution didn’t have long coattails here.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 5:33 pm
Anyone think this is a problem with Ozinga?
Ozinga, Martin
Occupation: President
Employer: Ozinga Brothers
12/14/2005 Individual Contribution
Friends of Blagojevich $10,000.00
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 25, 08 @ 11:06 pm