Like that old Tony Orlando and Dawn song, Dan Seals is knocking "three times on the ceiling" of the 10th Congressional District. Now we know why state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, passed on running in the Feb. 2 Democratic primary.
Seals will be a formidable primary opponent for the half-dozen or so candidates expected to file this fall. He's got pretty exclusive name recognition among the party faithful. That comes from losing two close runs against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park, now seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He's got most of his 2,500 volunteer group ready to go for another try and he can raise money.
Without a well-known Republican in the race, this swing district could go Democratic next year. Seals is a tireless campaigner and if the party nominee, will get Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee support. And probably presidential support. Taking the North Shore congressional seat once occupied by Don Rumsfeld would tickle pink a number of Inside-the-Beltway mavens.
For Seals, maybe losing twice to Kirk may lead to the third time being the charm.
Is he the most shameless carpetbagger since the civil war or the new Lyndon LaRouche of Illinois. He claims our district problems our overwhelming, I guess his district is in shangri-la. He volunteers to march in our parades every couple of years, the extent of his involvement with our district. He has become the master dilettante of boutique electioneering.
THE HOUND SAYS: And what's wrong with carpetbaggers. Let's see: Hillary Clinton was one in New York, right? Constitution doesn't say a congressman has to live in the district, just that he or she are 25 and citizens.
Seals ran against Kirk as an anti-Bush candidate. With the economy tanking and the deficit exceeding over a trillion bucks, Seals cannot run against the government or the POTUS. He has to run in support of all the big ticket and big tax programs of his party. He also has to distance himself from the Dem party corruption and ineffectiveness in Springfield; which will be pretty darned near impossible. What the GOP has to do is to find someone who will be able to effectively communicate both a positive message, and Seals' weaknesses; but it can't be anyone who may be perceived as just another career politician. That's a tall order, but one that the GOP will need to fill in order to keep Kirk's seat in their column.
THE HOUND SAYS: Like most of the voters in the 10th Congressional District were feeling the effects of the Bush recession back then? GOP has to come up with a candidate with some name recognition. So far, the Dems are coming out of the woodwork to run for Congress.