BY MIKE CETERA AND DAVE PARRO
We live-blogged Saturday from the Election Night headquarters of both Bill Foster and Jim Oberweis as the election results came in for the 14th Congressional District special election.
See how the night progressed leading up to Foster's victory and add your comments.
Look forward to following the posts again as the election runs its course today. Getting ready to head to my Polling place in about an hour and some GOTV work later in the day.
Let's hope this all runs smooth and there's an excellent turnout from voters locally and across the 14th.
Would be interested to know which Beacon staffers will be working the election today and what assignments they have. Looking forward to some wide-spectrum coverage from the local scenes.
Best regards
CETERA REPLIES:
OK, here's the plan.
Staff writer Steve Lord will be hanging out at some polling places up north today; he will file a story on early turnout projections for the Web site this afternoon.
We plan a second mid-day update as well (although I can't remember exactly what that's supposed to be at the moment).
Tonight, staff writer Dan Campana and I will head to Bill Foster's Election Night headquarters in Aurora while staff writer Andre Salles and Dave Parro will be at Jim Oberweis' HQ in St. Charles.
Thanks for the updates, look forward to following along as the day and night roll along.
Looks like excellent coverage and good teams.
Good luck. Sounds like a lot of fun. My blog will be following along with what you're doing.
Please keep us updated, there is a lot at stake tonight...even for national GOP leaders who have directed millions of dollars to this race to avoid what would be a devastating loss.
FROM OBERWEIS HEADQUARTERS:
I'll be reporting tonight from the Q Center in St. Charles with the Oberweis camp. Right now, the local TV networks are setting up in the party room, but the place is otherwise empty. I'm the only reporter in the press room so far. That surely will change.
My polling place, Prisco Center in Aurora, was also empty when I voted at around 4 p.m. One of the election judges said turnout was down from Feb. 5. That's not suprising at all. She also said a New York Times photographer was there earlier in the day as Bill Foster came through shaking hands. All the national media will be interested in this race tonight, as a win by the Democrats could be a sign of things to come.
She also reported lots of poll watchers, which also isn't surprising considering the interest the national parties have taken in this election.
FROM FOSTER HEADQUARTERS:
I'll be reporting from Long Island Sound banquet facility in Aurora. It's pretty quiet right now, although there are certainly more media folks here than campaign folks, including a photographer from The New York Times.
There's also a wedding down the hall, and the bride asked me if she might get on TV tonight. We're all wondering if we can crash her party after this wraps up.
FROM OBERWEIS HEADQUARTERS:
Kane County has posted what looks like the early-voting totals: 3,549 for Oberweis, 2,755 for Foster. No precincts reporting, so it looks like early voting.
So, are you gonna update in comments or put up new posts?
Do you have any exit poll info or preliminary returns yet?
Thanks.
Looking forward to your reports...thanks for the effort.
Sorry Rich. We're going to post in comments. We should have made that clear
FROM OBERWEIS HEADQUARTERS:
The campaigns were definitely trying to get out the last-minute vote today. The Oberweis campaign had 300 workers going door to door today reminding voters of the Saturday election. I got at least half a dozen robocalls at my house before 2 p.m. I'll be happy when the phone stops ringing and my mailbox is no longer stuffed with campaign pieces.
Well, those early voting numbers out of Kane are just under the Primary totals from Jan/Feb. That's impressive...
Kendall is reporting a 225 vote lead for Oberweis, appears early voting numbers too.
As I sit in front of my computer waiting for the returns to trickle in, I can't help but recall how different our situation is from not long ago, before the Beacon News upgraded its services into the 21st century. We no longer must call crowded phone lines, or perhaps wait until the morning paper is delivered. No longer are we able to kid about the good old "Be Confused"; I for one am glad to compliment the Beacon on the excellent job that it does for the second largest city in Illinois!!
Kane's started to post results.
FROM OBERWEIS HEADQUARTERS:
Oberweis has a 55-45 lead with about 9,300 votes counted so far. Kane is starting to post, and DuPage is reporting a few precincts, too. The party room here is finally starting to fill up.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Supporters are starting to arrive. Foster is not expected to arrive until more results come in. I don't get the sense that any of his campaign staff have a sense of where this is going yet.
I'd like to know what the locals thought of all the outsiders knocking on their doors and calling them on the phone pestering them to vote Foster for the last couple of weeks? aka, the rabid Democratic GOTV'ers.
FROM OBERWEIS HEADQUARTERS:
Oberweis' campaign staffers tell me he is now in the building, meeting with family and senior staff members before making a public appearance.
Votes are starting to come in everywhere, including 10 percent of the precincts in Kane. Oberweis is up 52-48 with about 15,000 votes cast.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
To answer George's question about exit polling, I can't find anyone who did any. The Oberweis campaign did not, nor did the GOP, according to spokesman Bill Pascoe.
With 10 of 24 pcts in Henry County - Oberweis up 62% to 38%
FROM FOSTER HQ:
A Foster staffer said he doesn't know anything about exit polls either.
Craig must have meant 15,000 votes *counted*, right? Do we know how many votes were cast altogether?
In Kendall County the Republicans were calling non-stop. Yesterday Obeweis had a "Town Hall" conference call, and we couldn't get the phone line free for 15 minutes!
So, early voting gave Dairy Man a lead. Is the trend going to Foster for ballots cast today? Is DuPage coming in higher for Foster than Kane is? Any numbers or analysis?
When you say Oberweis up 62% to 38%, do you mean in Henry County, or overall?
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Despite the early numbers, the campaign remains optimistic. A staffer told me Foster's folks had 600 volunteers on the ground while the polls.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
The Beacon Web site is reporting (via Sun-Times, via AP) Foster is up 54-46 with 90 precincts reporting out of 568. My spreadsheet shows Oberweis winning by four points with the same number of precicnts reporting. I'm not sure if we're counting the same numbers.
That was just for the 10 precincts in Henry. I am getting mixed numbers. All I can get now, from Kane Ober 49.5%, Foster 49.8% (80 of 223), Henry Ober 62% Foster 38& (10 of 24 pcts), DuPage Ober 50.9%, Foster 49.1% (3 of 36 pcts)
Suntimes has it 55% Foster / 45% Ober with 135 of 568 pcts, not sure where they are getting their numbers, but they are way off everybody else.
Unnoficial AP results have Foster up 15,710 to Oberweis' 13073 (55 to 45%) with 135 of 568 precincts reporting
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Foster up 67 to 33 percent in Aurora with 40 percent of the precincts reporting.
Lee Reported In:
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
Total
Number of Precincts 49
Precincts Reporting 49 100.0 %
Vote For 1
Times Counted 2774/22063 12.6 %
Total Votes 2761
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JIM OBERWEIS (REP) 1537 55.67%
BILL FOSTER (DEM) 1224 44.33%
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
I've now got Foster up 22 votes out of more than 40,000 cast. That's with 35 percent of precicts reporting. This one's as close as everyone expected, or closer.
Obie is losing DeKalb big
http://www.dekalbcounty.org/Elections/results-1.htm
FROM FOSTER HQ:
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky has just walked in. So did State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia.
Foster's at 50 in Kane with more than half in.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: Foster is winning 2-1 in Aurora and holds a slight lead in Kane and about 600 votes overall. But the Oberweis staffers here are optimistic that their votes are still coming in because none of the Republican western counties are reporting yet.
U.S. House - District 14 - Special General
Illinois - 235 of 568 Precincts Reporting - 41%
Name Party Votes Vote %
Foster , Bill Dem 28,322 53%
Oberweis , Jim GOP 24,693 47%
From Sun Times
Postings are out of synch with names on this blog.
Beacon and Sun-Times websites are now showing Foster over Oberweis 53% to 47% with 41 percent of precincts reporting.
Foster 53 with 41 in per Suntimes.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
The results are not being projected here, so the folks with wireless connections (i.e. the media) are extraordinarily popular right now.
Holy cow, Foster leads in Kendall with 61 of 75 in...that's amazing!
FROM FOSTER HQ:
If Foster wins, this is why --
Aurora Election Commission
Number of Precincts 74
Precincts Reporting 67 90.5%
Vote For 1
Times Counted (50,193 Voters) 9,320 18.6%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JIM OBERWEIS (REP) 3181 34.3%
BILL FOSTER (DEM) 6100 65.7%
NO CANDIDATE
Still Foster 53%, Oberweis 47% with 55% of precincts reporting per Sun-Times.
lol Obviously no one needs wireless because I, Annon, seem to be floating seemlessly between the Oberweis and Foster locs per this blog. I seem to have it all covered.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: The staffers here are starting to get nervous. They're looking over my shoulder every time I update my spreadsheet. Foster is up about 4,000 votes by my count and the Sun-Times/AP.
64 in with Foster still at 53.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
It looks like that bride mentioned earlier in the night could get her wish to be on TV. Shannon Martinez was interviewed by a TV reporter. When asked how it feels to share the spotlight with Bill Foster she (first looked like she had no idea who Bill Foster is) said: "It feels great. I'm on TV."
What universe do these Oberweis shills live in? I like "Antioch" who claimed he was 22 votes up when he was 4,000 down.
Times is showing 74 in now. Same numbers.
Don't pay attention to the names on this blog. They're out of synch with the postings as I said earlier.
You've got physicists all across the country watching your posting attentively. Two physicists in Congress means we outnumber the lawyers on a per capita basis.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: I think this thing's over. With 75 percent of precincts reporting, Foster is up 53-47. It's going to be tough to catch up, and the mood here has turned sour.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Supporters have apparently found an Internet connection and are starting to cheer here.
Sorry, Antioch- I just figured out it was Parro claiming Oberweis was within 22 votes at 35% in. Suuuuuuuuuuure he was.
The name *below* the post is the name of the person who made that post
This one is done - I'm headed to Oberweis Ice Cream to celebrate BILL FOSTER'S victory with a nice ice cream sundae. I wonder what office Jim Oberweis will begin campaigning for in December...
Game over, unless the rest of Kane votes 60%+ for Obe.
Foster's 6% lead holding fast with 79% of precincts reporting.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Mark Guethle, head of the Kane County Democratic Party:
Talking about the impact of Foster on Kane County, he says "People vote on candidates not the party," an attempt to dispell the notion that Kane is a Republican county.
Oh...lol. Thanks for explaining that. I thought it might have been the physicists at work.
91 vote vicotry for Foster in Kendall. Amazing...Hastert's home County. Just amazing...
So has Jabba Jr. reached for the phone to call Congressman Foster yet? How Suwheeeeeet IT IS!!!
"I wonder what office Jim Oberweis will begin campaigning for in December..." Doesn't Aurora need a new dog catcher?
As a former IL 14th CD Resident, I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to see this district trend Blue!!!! Go Obama!
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: 90 percent in, 5000 votes difference. This one's over. I get the feeling the Oberweis folks here are planning their concession speech. They just sang happy birthday to Oberweis' wife. Happy birthday, Mrs. Oberweis.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Shouts of "It's over. It's over" come over the crowd, from the Foster fans who have already begun celebrating.
It's looking bad for Oberweis. Go Foster!
Maybe people were turned off by J.O.'s nastiness in his attack m.o., not to mention his debate conduct. Maybe he'll finally give up on politics and go back to clogging people's arteries and get a hobby. It was always obvious his dallying in politics was just an ego trip.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Everyone is cheering wildly now.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: Word is spreading that the Associated Press has called the race for Foster.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Mark Guethle will introduce Dick Durbin who will introduce Bill Foster within about a half hour.
The most important number in this election may turn out to be the unsurmountable 3,000+ vote spread inside Aurora for Foster. Somewhat surprising because, even though it is a Democratic stronghold, it is Oberweis' hometown. This race is a bellweather for November. If Foster wins Hastert's former seat, Republicans are going to go to school on Oberweis and likely begin to repudiate the sitting Republican president.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: It's like a funeral over here. Everyone's eating Oberweis ice cream (seriously), but no one's smiling. How sad. Just waiting for Oberweis to speak now.
Obama 1, McCain 0
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: Oberweis is about to speak.
Night Night to the nasty Dairy Man. Another rejection of anything connected with Bush, Cheney, Hastert, co.
This one hurts the Repubs. They spent big money and the symbolism is damaging stuff for November.
FROM THE FOSTER HQ:
Dick Durbin has arrived to the enthusiastic cheers of Foster supporters. One supporter asks, "Where's Barack?"
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: "As I said last month, first is a lot more fun than second." Oberweis has already talked to Foster and conceded.
This election is as much a referendum on Dennis Hastert as anything else.
OBERWEIS SPEECH: He encouraged Foster to keep taxes down. Now he's thanking his friends, family, supporters, staffers, etc. "I would like you all to join me in singing happy birthday" to my wife for her 50th.
Everyone is singing "Happy Birthday" now to his wife. Seriously.
OBERWEIS SPEECH: He's already wrapping it up. Short and not so sweet. "We'll have another run at it in nine months." He encouraged everyone to enjoy the snacks (and whiskey, if you're so inclined).
Hopefully the candidates will get the message now, and stop running all these negative campaigns. Tell us what you will do, not what a jerk the other candidate is.
Looks like Obie was Milk Stud for only a month out of his 61 years. Now back to Milk Dud.
There will likely be pressure for Oberweis to abandon the race for the 14th in November and switch to a less polarizing candidate. But who could that be? Many folks thought Kevin Burns would be an ideal moderate R, but he could get no traction in the primary. Would Lauzen try this again? Looking at the results today, he would be no shoo-in and might do even worse than Oberweis against a now-incumbent.
All things considered, Foster will be well positioned to hold this seat in November...especially if Obama tops the ticket.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Supporters are streaming in. I gotta believe they're going to reach capacity in this room pretty quickly. TV cameras are panning the romm taking crowd shots. No sign of Foster yet.
It's a great day!!! To bad we have to hear from Oberweis again this fall. He should just go back to his cave.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Foster is here. And he's surrounded. People are chanting "Foster, Foster, Foster."
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Guethle: Foster is grass-roots. The little guy won. "I've been waiting eight long years for this."
He's introducing Dick Durbin.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: Oberweis' speech was literally about two minutes long. He really didn't have anything to say of substance. Everyone here seems stunned.
So it's time for a little analysis now that the numbers are in. What exactly does this mean for the district, and what does it mean for November?
I think Oberweis had to win today to have any chance in the fall. Now that Foster has won, I think Oberweis doesn't have a shot with Obama possibly on the ticket. Foster will go in as the incumbent who will be tough to unseat even without record Democratic turnout.
How embarrassing for the Republicans to lose Hastert's seat. Wow. That's just amazing. It says alot about how the 14th District has changed and also how the country is responding to seven years of George Bush and his wars. Foster hit that hard, and it paid off.
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Durbin -- "I have a message. It's a message from the senatorial team in washington for the state of illinois. your humble servant dick durbin and the next president of the united states, Barack Obama...change started right here."
"Little did i know that as a new candidate presenting himself for the first time, he would...face this barrage of negative campaigning hitting him right between the eyes."
"Beyond his strength there was real character there."
"This 14th District has never seen such election-day activity in it's history. Tonight marks the end of the beginning and he beginning of your new congressman."
FOSTER:
"This is a great night. Back in the laboratory this is what we'd say was a pretty successful experiment."
"The voters of the 14th distirct were given a national stage...sent a clear message to Washington."
"you want reasonable voices and workable solutions...I've heard you loud and clear."
FOSTER:
"one of the great lessons I've learned on this campaign is I really do like people. it's only the scientists that drive me crazy."
spoke with Oberweis who congratulated Foster on "a strong victory."
"He ran a hard campaign and he deserves our appreciation for participating in this great democracy. And we'll be doing it again in November. So I won't say anything too nice that might show up in one of his ads."
-- OUCH
FROM FOSTER HQ:
Foster's ex-wife is here. He introduced her as "my friend." Guess that answers that.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ: We just interviewed Oberweis. He didn't have much to say. He said they will change strategies between now and November, but they won't change positions. He wouldn't comment about what those changes would be. He also wouldn't talk about the Obama effect in November.
You have to wonder why the Republican leadership backed The Milk Dud to begin with.
Then they spent 20% of all the money the Republican National Congressional Comittee had on an obnoxious man.
They better keep John McCain's temper under control!
FOSTER:
Says he thinks the party and campaign stood above the negative campaigning.
"I owe a great deal of thanks to labor and the AFL-CIO." Also thanks other labor unions for fighting to win the election.
"From this day forward labor will be a force to be reckoned with in the 14th Congressional District."
lauzen must be grinning.
It was the negative ads dummy. Rise above and tell us what you can realistically do, AND LISTEN TO US, not your handlers!
FOSTER:
began campaign because country was "seriously off course." "As we have said throughout this campaign, I will be your vote in Congress to make change happen."
"We have a lot of work to do. and that's what i intend to to -- get to work."
Washington is a mess. "Nothing would give me more pride than to be another vote - and maybe the vote -- to override" the president and expand healthcare for children.
"For the next 10 months that is the path to progress."
FOSTER:
Thanks Obama and lets this zinger go -- "For those of you following the election closely, there's one more pledged superdelagate today."
Foster is done talking.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
Another look at the numbers shows that Aurora (+3000), Kane County (+1000) and DeKalb County (+1400) carried Foster. But he also won (amazingly) in Kendall County. Oberweis won some of the far western counties, but that means nothing when you can't win Kane.
Don't forget how close it was in DuPage. Yeesh.
Is there any doubt that Lauzen would have at worst run -10% in Aurora?
Lauzen could have won this race.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
There was no sign of Hastert here today. I think the party blew it by backing Oberweis. They needed someone who is likable, not divisive and controversial.
How many failed campaigns will it take for him to get the message that the voters don't want him in office? Hopefully only one more.
FOSTER HQ:
Someone just said Foster is talking to Barack on the phone. Not sure how either man will be able to hear anything.
This was a reflection of the national trend, a fact not helped by the inclusion of Mr. Oberweis on the ballot.
He has been repudiated and needs to step down immediately as the general election candidate. However, Lauzen and Burns, who lost the primary should not be chosen.
Party leaders should get together and select a new person to run. Pat Lindner, Tim Schmitz, Karen Mcconahey, etc.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
Rich,
You're absolutely right about DuPage Co. Foster won the Republican stronghold by 78 votes out of 6,500 cast. The fact that Oberweis lost everywhere he needed to win speaks volumes about his viability and appeal.
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
Mark,
It will be interesting to see if the party wants Jim to continue into November. Having won the primary election, it would be up to Oberweis to step down and the party to find a suitable replacement.
Personally I am so glad this stupid election is over with. This is the 1st time in 36 years I havent voted..the whole negetive mud slinging campaign totally disgusted me. It was like being inudated with Jerry Springer in my mailbox. Hopefully the next go round they can stick to the issues without acting like little spoiled kids that got caught with their hands in a cookie jar
This election is as much a referendum on Dennis Hastert as anything else.
Not really. The R's had two polarizing figures in this primary and Hastert is a better politician than either of them (Hastert had his issues, but he was more of a target nationally than he was in his own district). If Hastert had run, he would have won 55/45 if not 60/40. He also didn't do anything to help Oberweis except endorse him...
FROM OBERWEIS HQ:
Things are wrapping up here and the place is starting to empty out. I'm going to call it a night from the Q Center.
It'll be fun Monday to start analyzing exactly what happened and what happens between now and November. Thanks to everyone who tuned in tonight and commented.
Dave Parro
Thanks to Parro, Cetara and the Beacon News for providing this forum! It's almost like being in two places at once.
FOSTER HQ:
So we just talked to Foster in a darkened kitchen off the ballroom. Odd. His hand is a bit moist. But who can blame him.
Foster said he took to pacing as the results were coming in. He said he didn't want to constantly watch the numbers. "I didn't want to stand there and hover."
He said he didn't know what to expect Oberweis' next move to be and he said he had moments of doubt.
"You can always convince yourself that you're going to win by a mile or lose by a mile."
Thanks for some exciting coverage.
Have a great night, everybody.
Yeah let's not forget that Hastert gave his office and campaign staff as well... Thanks for abandoning the voters in the 14th with the milk dud, Denny. It was a poor decision to endorse Jim that probably just came out of Hastert's distaste for Lauzen. Looks like the voters will pay the price for that. Now where stuck with a bland dem that will be another champion of rhetoric and nothing more.
Barack endorsed us, too! I wonder if Foster loves taxes and patronage as much as us?
Oberweis should get out of the November Race. I voted for Sen Chris Lauzen-and voted for Foster because of the way The Milk Dud treated him. I'm so glad Kendall County was carried by Foster!!!!!!!!
Mike/Dave -- Update from The Beacon office -- the tech guys arrived here about 20 minutes ago and have begun hauling out the computers for our move to the new offices on Commons Drive.
They're bubble-wrapping the monitors, trapping the mice, and pulling the power cords. I hope they don't cut me off in mid-sente
Statement from Bill Foster on Winning the Illnois 14th Congressional District Special Election
Aurora, IL -- Scientist and businessman Bill Foster released the following statement tonight on his upset special election victory in Illinois' 14th Congressional District:
"Today the voters of the 14th District were given a national stage on which to speak to the country, and we sent a clear message to everyone in Washington. We demanded change and we demanded it now. We said loud and clear that we wanted an end to the bickering and political posturing. We want reasonable solutions to the problems that we face every day. Today, the people of the 14th District stood up and said loud and clear that they were ready for change."
###
DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen’s Statement on Bill Foster’s Special Election Victory in Illinois’ 14th District
DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on Bill Foster’s special election victory in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. The Democratic Majority in Congress has now grown to 232-198.
“Congratulations to Bill Foster on his victory tonight. Bill Foster’s victory in the seat that was held by Speaker Hastert sends a political shock wave across America this election year. It is a stunning rejection of the Bush Administration, its Republican allies, and presidential nominee John McCain. Republican candidates learned tonight that Senator McCain, who campaigned with the Republican nominee, cannot save them from defeat this November against strong Democratic challengers, even in districts that voted overwhelmingly for President Bush.
“Despite spending 20 percent of the their cash on hand, the NRCC was unable to hold a seat easily won by President Bush and held by Speaker Hastert for 20 years. Americans of all political stripes are rejecting Republicans’ divisive, status quo politics and turning to Democratic candidates for change. I am grateful to Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Barack Obama, and the Illinois Democratic delegation and candidates for encouraging the people of this district to vote for change by supporting Bill Foster.
“Voters of all political stripes responded to Bill Foster’s commitment to change. With his unique background as a respected scientist and a successful businessman, Bill Foster will be a tremendous asset to our Democratic Caucus, as we continue fighting to strengthen our economy and ease the squeeze on America’s struggling middle class families.”
# # #
FINAL NUMBERS FROM EACH COUNTY:
Aurora: 74 of 74 precincts
Foster -- 7,153
Oberweis -- 3,859
Kane: 223 of 223
Foster -- 25,661
Oberweis -- 24,365
Kendall: 75 of 75
Foster -- 6,396
Oberweis -- 6,305
DeKalb: 71 of 71
Foster -- 5,937
Oberweis -- 4,640
DuPage: 36 of 36
Foster -- 3,294
Oberweis -- 2,216
Henry: 24 of 24
Foster -- 1,046
Oberweis -- 1,678
Lee: 49 of 49
Foster -- 1,913
Oberweis -- 2,414
Whiteside: 13 of 13
Foster -- 519
Oberweis -- 425
Bureau -- 3 of 3
Foster -- 45
Oberweis -- 51
To the Republican Big Wigs.... I don't want to say I told you so... but... I TOLD YOU SO!
Read about it here: http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconblog/2007/11/republican_candidate_withdraws.html
Rudy Clai
Oberweis got his ass handed to him by the "conservative" voters of Aurora. What does that say? Aurora likes Lauzen, hated what Oberweis did to him in the primary, and demonstrated it yesterday. Aurora is not all that conservative, no matter what the 5 same bloggers at the "Open" Line blog repeat numerous times during the day. People in general are sick of Hastert and the biddness as usual repubs.
All 3..and more I am sure.
Congrats to Bill Foster...now tell him to stay away from Chris Van Hollen and his DCCC ilk and work for real change. The DCCC is in it for the power, not for the people. Let's hope Foster sees that early, often, and works to form a new consensus that sees the "centrist" approach that Democrats took in the 90s as an anathema to true progress. The word "liberal" is not a knock against someone, the Clintons nonwithstanding.
Same in Kendall-got a growing Democratic Party here-man, could we finally get some choices???
But Republicans didd vote for Foster because of The Milk Duds Nasty attacks-on Sen. Lauzen, then Foster.
Even with an endorsement by Sen. Lauzen, those votes will NEVER come back.
Oberweis should withdraw.
The Beacon News said it best- the perenialy (SP)bridesmade.
So if Clinton is at the top of the ticket in the general election, does Foster stand a chance to continue holding this seat?