Illinois Democrats Scramble, Seeing Opportunity in a House Republican's Re

[Judi Lynn]

Illinois Democrats Scramble, Seeing Opportunity in a House Republican's Retirement

By JODI RUDOREN
Published: March 19, 2006
GLENDALE HEIGHTS, Ill., March 16 — L. Tammy Duckworth, Democratic Congressional candidate, had hardly maneuvered her wheelchair up to the table at the Bakers Square restaurant here before Sally Allen, one of three women dipping into wedges of lemon meringue pie, exclaimed: "You're a real inspiration!"



Kenneth Dickerman for The New York Times
L. Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic Congressional candidate, campaigned among retired federal employees.

Christine Cegelis has not stopped campaigning since earning 44 percent of the votes in the election in 2004.
"I sure hope you win," Ms. Allen, a postal worker who usually votes Republican, told Ms. Duckworth, a retired Army major and helicopter pilot who lost both legs in a grenade attack in Iraq. As Ms. Duckworth left, her admirer said, "I think it's just the best thing that could happen to all of us to have her up there as a role model."

Such reactions are exactly why the leading lights of the Democratic Party — including Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Illinois's own Barack Obama — have rushed to back Ms. Duckworth's bid for the Democratic nomination in Tuesday's primary, making the Sixth District contest to replace Henry Hyde, the Republican incumbent who is retiring after 32 years, one of the most closely watched in the country.

There are just 25 open Congressional seats this season, and experts say demographic shifts here in DuPage County, a longtime Republican bastion west of Chicago, place it among perhaps 10 that will be truly competitive (along with 23 where incumbents are vulnerable). With Democrats needing to pick up 15 seats to gain control of the House, Vice President Dick Cheney called this one a "must-win" for Republicans when he visited this week to raise more than $200,000 for state Senator Peter Roskam, who faces no opposition on the Republican side.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/politics/19illinois.html



Sorry to see the youthfully indiscreet
Clinton impeachment manager Henry Hyde go.

[madrchsod]

1. to early for the battling democrats in the illinois forum

to start the next "discussion" over the l. tammy and christine campaign. after tuesday the illinois forum will be on it`s way back to being normal.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Didn't know there's a debate over the two going here. Should be helpful

for us D.U. out-of-staters. Thanks.

[acmejack]

3. I suggest after the little display we have witnessed by the DCCC

and the powers that be thingts for many of us will never be back to "normal". To some it spelled "betrayal".

[salin]

4. Here is to hoping that all of the energy being

engaged in this primary battle (not taking sides) - raises name awareness of both candidates and translates into a win in this seat. That would be so sweet - to see Hyde's seat go to a democrat and to a woman no less (he has always struck me as a wee bit hostile to women and womens' rights.)

[OKNancy]

5. May the best woman win

..and I hope that the primary voters think about who is the best candidate to win in the general.
Right now IMO, winning is the goal for 2006.

[salin]

6. just a year ago

it seemed nearly impossible to consider retaking the House... now the possibilities are growing by the day. These are very, very interesting times.

[acmejack]

7. The best candidate is no longer germane

The most money I fear is going to buy the race. The story has been repeated from time immemorial & Rahm and the DC boys are demonstrating it again. I seriously resent it. A slap in the face to the grassroots after getting us to pour our money into this race!

Both candidates are very good and I admit I like them both. I am tweaked about the way this unfolded & You have a candidate that almost that almost beat the incumbent so you get someone to run against her, right! Screw Rahm, screw the DCCC, and most especially FUCK the DLC!!!

[OKNancy]

8. The voters of the Illinois district will decide

I live in Oklahoma so I need to deal with politics here. I'll watch with interest.