BY MIKE CETERA
A new poll apparently commissioned by State Sen. Chris Lauzen's congressional campaign shows Lauzen and dairy magnate Jim Oberweis are tied in the GOP race to succeed former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, according to a Washington newsletter.
The poll, according to The Rothenberg Political Report, also shows Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns is well behind. The report does not mention the other Republican vying for the nomination, Michael J. Dilger of Evanston
From the story:
An October 22-23 Public Opinion Strategies poll of 300 likely primary voters for the Lauzen campaign showed Lauzen and Oberweis even at 38% on the ballot, with Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns at 4%.According to the memo, Oberweis has higher name identification in the district, due to multiple recent statewide runs for office. Many observers believe the name ID factor gives him the early edge, particularly if a special election were to occur.
I'm always wary of polls, particularly if they are not independent, as the Rothenberg story seems to indicate this one is not. If nothing else, it's interesting trivia.
We're all wary of polls, Dave. Especially ones that are not independent. So why give it credence by reporting it?
We all know Lauzen is desperate and will stoop to anything to try win. Too bad he'll fail.
Mike: I've now seen two references to this poll in your newspaper, the second being in Salles' story on the debates, and Lauzen's unwillingness to go head-to-head with Burns. But I'm yet to see the poll. Why can't your reporters ask these questions of the candidates? This poll was a push poll paid for by Lauzen designed to artificially inflate Lauzen's support.
I have knocked over 1000 doors for Chris this election. All in Kane County. He will win Kane handily over Oberweis. Burns is a non-factor. 59% of the primary vote is in Chris' Senate District.
People usually vote for the best conservative in primaries. That's Lauzen, hands down.
Jon likes to say Burns is a nonfactor because he and Lauzen are scared to death of Burns. Lauzen won't debate Burns because he knows he'll have to tell why, for the last 15 years he's been in Springfield, he's flunked the "works and plays well with others" test that the rest of us passed in grade school. So Zahm and Lauzen are working overtime trying to discredit Burns with phoney polls.
Calling Lauzen a conservative is an insult to Ronald Reagan. Lauzen is an extremist who represents personal politics at ots worst. Lauzen is the type of career politician America voted out of Congress in 2006.
We're better with Burns.
Let Mr. Zahm's words resonate for a moment. He states that 59 percent of the primary votes are in Mr. Lzuzen's senate district, implying that anyone not names Lauzen had better not even bother to try.
This is the problem with Lauzen and his campaign. Lauzen thinks this seat is his birthright. He doesn't want to hear any dissention to that, just like he doesn't want to have to publicly defend his indefensible record as a state senator.
Lauzen and Oberweis have one big thing in common: Both want to go to D.C. so they can put it on their resumes, another notch on their gun, so to speak.
Burns wants to go to D.C. to work for you. And he will.