New Prosperity Foundation, a so-called Super Political Action Committee spent $25,000 on an ad against Rep. Judy Biggert's (R-13) likely general election opponent.
Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster shocked the political world by defeating notorious anti-immigrant Republican Jim Oberweis in both special and general elections for the 14th Congressional District, a political territory long represented by Denny Hastert, the former House speaker. Foster was undoubtedly helped over the finish line by President Barack Obama's campaign in 2008. Despite the historical and structural headwinds blowing against congressional Democrats this election cycle, Foster is neck-in-neck with GOP challenger Randy Hultgren.
Sun-Times political reporter Abdon Pallasch has a new profile out about the race. Here's how he described Hultgren:
Hultgren has been a voice of conservatism in Springfield, spearheading a bill that raised requirements and restrictions on teenagers seeking a driver's license and also working on the "Tort Reform" bill limiting the amount of money that juries can award to victims of medical malpractice. The state Supreme Court ruled the bill unconstitutional.
At yesterday's get out the vote rally in Chicago, Foster contrasted his endorsers (the Chicago Tribune, Nobel Prize laureates, among others) with Hultgren's (Sarah Palin) to a packed ballroom of supporters and told them he'll only be able to win this year if strong field operation gets supporters to the polls. Watch:
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is increasing its
financial support for two suburban congressional candidates, U.S. Rep.
Bill Foster and 10th District nominee Dan Seals. The group is spending
nearly $1 million for TV ads this week, doubling what the party’s
campaign wing had previously tossed into the contests.
When Nate Silver makes a prediction, it's worth paying attention. Using
a sophisticated algorithm that takes into account polling data, generic
ballot numbers, and the president’s approval rating among other
factors, the former Chicagoan and proprietor of the blog FiveThirtyEight correctly predicted all 35 U.S. Senate contests in 2008. On Friday, he released
his first batch of House rankings for the 2010 cycle. The results
weren't pretty for Democrats; the model gives Republicans a roughly 66 percent chance of retaking the lower chamber. In Illinois, freshmen Democrats Bill Foster and Debbie Halvorson are both
favored to lose. Democrat Dan Seals does, however, have a slight
advantage in the race for the 10th Congressional District open seat. Read the full results here.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reserved
a massive $3.6 million Chicago-market ad buy for the final two weeks of
the November election season. The ads are expected to promote three
candidates in tight races: Dan Seals (10th District), Rep. Debbie
Halvorson (11th District), and Rep. Bill Foster (14th District).
The first quarter congressional fundraising numbers have been released and Illinois incumbents, not surprisingly, are outraising their challengers. But in the open 10th District race, Democrat Dan Seals posted the highest fundraising total of any U.S. House candidate in the state.
Rothenberg Political Reports has rated the 14th Congressional District race a "toss-up" and declared the 11th District race "in play" (though Democrat-favored).
