Dems Now Favored in Key Illinois House Race, as GOP Nominee Quits

[babylonsister]

Dems Now Favored in Key Illinois House Race, as GOP Nominee Quits
By Greg Giroux, CQ Staff


House Republican campaign officials — already hindered by a big disadvantage in the number of “open” seats they have to defend this year — suffered a blow Friday in their efforts to hold one that already was particularly vulnerable to Democratic takeover. The GOP now faces an emergency recruiting job in Illinois’ politically competitive 11th District after local officeholder Tim Baldermann, the winner of a competitive primary just two and a half weeks earlier, unexpectedly declined the nomination.

In light of Baldermann’s withdrawal, CQ Politics has changed its rating on the Illinois 11 race to Democrat Favored from No Clear Favorite.

Baldermann’s dropout — which he attributed to the problems he faced juggling the responsibilities of his local positions with an intense campaign for Congress — is a setback to the Republican Party’s already uncertain efforts to retain control of the district. The Democrats are fielding state Sen. Debbie Halvorson, one of their strongest open-seat candidates in this year’s House elections.

Halvorson is running to succeed retiring seven-term Rep. Jerry Weller . He is one of 24 House Republicans who are either voluntarily retiring or running for other offices, compared with just five Democrats who have voluntarily left their seats open.

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. That is because Illinois law allows party officials plenty of leeway to replace nominees who drop out after winning primary contests. Republican officials have until early April to select a new candidate.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002675667

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Weller's a dirty, scum-sucking, ass-licking, piece of shit who

deserves a serious, all expenses paid vacation next to Mr. Abramof.

[David in Canada]

3. He'll go to Guatemala...

His wife is the daughter of Efrain Rios Montt, a brutal dictator for nine months in 1982-1983 that butchered thousands of indigenous people and forced television stations to broadcast religious propaganda on Sundays. He was on friendly terms with Pat Robertson.

As his wife is a legislator there, he will likely have some methods to fight extradition were he to be indicted.

[David in Canada]

2. Jerry Weller

I just hope the GOP politburo leadership doesn't harangue and cajole Weller to run again. However, should they do so, and succeed, I think Ms. Halverson is strong enough to defeat him anyway.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Great News For The South & Southwest Burbs...

It's great to see Weller Rios Montt go off to his Guatamalan reward...and a great chance at yet another pick-up in some previously very red areas.

Also, here's a pitch for DU'ers to rally around Bill Foster in Illinois 8th...he's in a run-off against the Cow Nazi for Gym Teach Denny's old seat. Foster is a great candidate who has been on the airwaves here (very expensive) and built a ground organization in an area that long needed it, and hopefully we can grab this seat as well as several others (6th and 10th) as well.

[madrchsod]

5. 14th....election saturday the 8th --then a rerun in november

the milk nazi makes fat denny seem like a liberal...