Progress Illinois

The Hill has an interesting article out on internal polling released by 13th District GOP Rep. Judy Biggert. The mid-June survey by American Viewpoint Inc. shows her leading Democratic challenger Scott Harper by 25 points and puts her approval rating at 67 percent. The Harper campaign begs to differ:

Democrat Scott Harper’s campaign disputed those numbers, citing its own polling data, which it says shows the incumbent’s job approval below 50 percent. [...]

Harper’s campaign manager, Sarah Topy, said the Biggert campaign’s decision to release the poll underscored the race’s competitiveness, arguing that Harper is the most serious challenger Biggert has ever faced.

“This is a real race,” Topy added. “Voters are tired of failed leadership and the Bush-Biggert agenda.”

Who knows what the actual landscape looks like in the 13th at the moment. But Topy is right that Biggert's decision to release internal numbers -- to a national outlet, no less -- proves that she's feeling some serious pressure in the wake of Harper's competitive second quarter fundraising.

UPDATE: The Harper campaign has released some of their own 13th District polling numbers (conducted by Fako & Associates between July 15 and July 17). The highlights:

- 71 percent of respondents feel the country is on the "wrong track."

- Biggert's approval rating dropped by 48 percent in November 2007 to 43 percent.

- Democratic affiliation is gradually increasing in the district, while GOP affilitation is dropping.

Yesterday, I had a chance to talk with 13th District Democratic congressional candidate Scott Harper at the Austin Convention Center, where Netroots Nation is being held. I asked him about his solid fundraising during the second quarter and about his thoughts on the rising unemployment rate in Illinois:

Late last week, Democratic congressional challenger Scott Harper launched a website devoted to documenting GOP incumbent Rep. Judy Biggert's support of the Bush agenda. It can be found at www.therealjudybiggert.com and is worth checking out.

In the Iraq section, the Harper campaign points out that Biggert "said in November 2006 that Iraqis would be able to handle their responsibilities alone 'within the next 12 to 18 months.' " That 18-month period would have ended in May and it appears that the Iraqi troops aren't quite ready to go it alone. If I were Harper, I'd be asking Judy for an explanation.

As the Senate passed the new G.I. Bill today by a veto-proof majority, 13th District congressional candidate Scott Harper held a press conference calling attention to the voting record of his opponent, Republican Rep. Judy Biggert, who opposed the bill in the House.

From the Harper campaign press release:

“Judy Biggert’s vote against the GI Bill is outrageous,” said Harper. “Time and again, she has been on the wrong side of these important issues and her vote on this recent legislation is a failure of leadership.”

In addition to her vote on the GI Bill, Harper also criticized Biggert for numerous other votes against veterans, including in 2007, when she came out against a budget that would have increased funding for veterans’ health care by $6.7 billion. She also voted against expanding TRICARE to provide health benefits for National Guard members and reservists, and she voted down the Webb Amendment to increase time off between combat tours overseas.

Harper was joined by veterans of Desert Storm and the Vietnam war in supporting the new G.I. Bill. The group has begun circulating a petition to encourage expanding veterans benefits.

Watching the 13th Congressional District, that is.

We noted in early April that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) had added IL-13 to it's list of targeted races. This means they intend to offer organizational and research assistance to Scott Harper's bid to unseat Republican Rep. Judy Biggert. Today, the Herald News reports on this "national nod," noting that the DCCC isn't ruling out naming Harper to its high-profile "Red-To-Blue" list later in the year:

"There's no firm commitment at this point, but we're hopeful down the road," Harper said.

Ryan Rudominer, Midwest regional press secretary for the committee, said the DCCC is watching the 13th District, although he declined to comment on whether the party would contribute financially to Harper's campaign.

"Congresswoman Biggert has largely ignored the economic needs of middle-class families, she rubber stamps President Bush's failed agenda and we're keeping an eye on this race," Rudominer said.

In related news, the Harper campaign organized 38 volunteers over the weekend to canvass for Obama in Lafayette, IN. Over at Prairie State Blue, Mark Garrity has a first-hand run-down. For more on Chicagoland Obama supporters volunteering for him in Indiana, check out Mose's recent feature.

Here's 13th District congressional candidate Scott Harper's statement on the "Mission Accomplished" anniversary:

“President Bush and his allies in Congress like Judy Biggert have botched this war from the beginning,” said Harper. “Five years after the President declared major combat over, the war in Iraq continues to take a grave toll on our troops and their families, our military readiness, the fight against terrorism, our standing in the world and on the American economy."

“We’ve lost thousands of our finest young men and women since President Bush declared major combat ended,” said Harper. “And instead of demanding timetables and accountability to get us out of Iraq, Judy Biggert has given George Bush a $500 billion blank check to wage this war.”

“We need a new direction in Iraq to start phasing out our presence and withdrawing our troops so that the Iraqi government takes responsibility for themselves,” said Harper. “And we need benchmarks and accountability to ensure progress is being made there.”

“Maybe George Bush and Judy Biggert think the mission in Iraq has been accomplished but I don’t think the American people do,” said Harper.

According to a statement released today by his campaign, Scott Harper has broken the first-quarter fundraising record for a Democratic candidate in the 13th Congressional District. This is great news for Harper, a political newcomer who has remained largely under-the-radar this election cycle.

Originally from Naperville, Harper decided to challenge Republican incumbent Judy Biggert after attending last year's YearlyKos convention. Since entering the race, he has developed a formidable grassroots organization, (bringing out 120 volunteers to canvass for Bill Foster in the 14th District special election), drummed up support from organized labor groups, and, as we now know, put together an impressive fundraising operation in territory that has been solidly red for decades.

Today, Harper reported raising $134,115 in the first quarter of 2008. "By March 31 of this year," the campaign's press statement said, "Harper had raised $247,410, which is more than any Democratic candidate in this district has ever raised for an entire cycle." The statement continues:

Harper's first quarter total exceeds the combined first quarter totals of the Democratic candidates in the 13th over the last ten years. He is also the first candidate in 16 years to have raised more than 200,000 by the end of March.

The upsurge in donations woud seem to indicate that the tide is changing in the 13th District. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee seems to feel the same way. As we reported yesterday, the DCCC recently added Biggert to its list of "targeted Republicans." And as Jeff Wegerson over at Prairie State Blue notes, it wouldn't be surprising if the DCCC went on to tag Harper as a "Red-to-Blue" candidate at some point in the near future.

But Biggert still poses a major challenge, having raised $685,058 so far this election cycle. Still, the news from the 13th is good for progressives. Harper has put together a formidable operation and will clearly have the funds to give Biggert a run for her money.

We previously reported that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had targeted six Illinois districts this election cycle. To this list we can now add the 13th Congressional District. A recently updated DCCC map of the Prairie State now includes the 13th's Rep. Judy Biggert as a "targeted Republican" in the upcoming election. The DCCC notes that Rep. Biggert "will face a tough challenge from a strong Democratic candidate fighting for change."

Biggert's challenger, Scott Harper, has been campaigning and fund raising furiously in since he announced his intention to run and has obviously made an impression on the DCCC. The targeting of the 13th means the national Dems think Biggert is vulnerable, and may spend extra resources trying to turn the the district blue. It looks like Harper Vs. Biggert could be one to watch.