Progress Illinois

When back in the 13th Congressional District, Rep. Judy Biggert sure likes to praise the result of bills she opposed on Capitol Hill.

Earlier this year, the Hinsdale Republican lauded two transportation projects in her district that were funded through an appropriations bill she had voted against. Then in early October, she called for a six-month extension of the first-time homebuyer's tax credit -- initially implemented via the federal stimulus bill she vehemently opposed. Yesterday, she went even further, applauding the arrival of two stimulus grants (amounting to $10.9 million) intended to upgrade Naperville's municipal electric utility.

The political opportunism here is self-evident.  In February, just as the stimulus negotiations were wrapping up, Biggert spread lies about a 2007 report on the economic benefits of tax cuts by President Obama’s Economic Council of Advisers Chairwoman Christina Romer and eventually voted against the package. Just this past month, she issued a statement suggesting that "it's long past time for Congress to reject the big-spending approach to recovery that has clearly failed to stimulate job growth or ease the financial burden on struggling families." But then she sayd those stimulus programs directly benefiting her constituents are worthy of federal support?

She can't have it both ways.  And judging from his comments to us over the summer, Democratic challenger Scott Harper plans to drive home this point.

While covering Alexi Giannoulias' campaign announcement on Sunday, I happened to run into 13th District Democratic congressional candidate Scott Harper and conducted a brief on-camera interview with him.  Topics included: what he's been doing since November 4, 2008 (when he lost his initial challenge to GOP Rep. Judy Biggert), what's in store for his 2010 campaign, and what he thinks of Biggert's voting record in the 110th Congress.  Watch it:

After a strong challenge to GOP Rep. Judy Biggert last year, Democrat Scott Harper announced today that he will once again attempt to unseat her in 2010. As we noted last month, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was clearly impressed with Harper's previous efforts, so much so that they actively recruited him to give it another shot. The Daily Herald has more:

After being courted to run again by Maryland Congressman and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen, Harper said the decision to do so was made easier.

"I'm very excited to be working with the DCCC," he said. "We're trying to get our message out and sell our vision, and hopefully they'll be with us every step of the way." [...]

"Scott proved his ability ro raise large sums of money and build grassroots support," said Gabby Adler, the DCCC's midwestern regional press secretary. "We are confident with more time, money and support Scott Harper will no doubt be a serious threat to Judy Biggert as voters realize times have changed, but their member of Congress has not."

In conjunction with his announcement today, Harper rolled out a new website, as well as the following introductory video:

Last year, Democratic congressional challenger Scott Harper received virtually no help from the national Democratic Party in his race to unseat 13th District Rep. Judy Biggert. Ten days ago, Harper filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, signifying that he's going to give it another shot. And this time around, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking notice. From an article today in Roll Call (subscription required):

“We’re excited about the possibility that Scott Harper may challenge Congresswoman Biggert in 2010,” DCCC spokeswoman Gabby Adler said. “Last cycle, during an abbreviated campaign, Scott proved his ability to raise large sums of money and build grass-roots support. We’re confident that with more time, money and support, Scott will no doubt be a serious threat to Judy Biggert as voters realize times have changed but their Member of Congress has not.”

In response, the National Republican Congressional Committee has identified Biggert as one of 10 legislators who qualify for its Patriot Program, a comprehensive incumbent retention program. According to Politico, the national party will organize fundraisers, bring in "high-profile Republican surrogates," and utilize their own money to buoy Biggert's campaign. In other words, they realize which way the wind is blowing.

It's no secret that Democrats have feasted on open Congressional races in Northern Illinois. Both Reps. Debbie Halvorson and Bill Foster cruised to victory in districts previously held by the GOP last year, bolstered by changing demographics, Republican policy shifts, and Barack Obama's candidacy. While the party has had less success unseating incumbents, a few key retirements -- combined with solid challengers -- could solidify the Democratic stronghold regionally. To that end, national party leaders are signaling they plan to pressure select Republican congressmen to hang it up instead of fighting a tough reelection battle. The Hill reports:

House Democrats and Republicans alike are focused this cycle on putting pressure on certain incumbents thought to be potential retirees. Democrats are doing it because they have basically run out of viable targets. Republicans are going after Democrats with everything they’ve got and hoping an aggressive tack will pay dividends in 2010. [...]

“Republicans who haven’t fought a tough race in years may have to dust off their political operations and get ready to face an aggressive challenger,” said a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Jennifer Crider.

llinois Republicans Judy Biggert and Don Manzullo are on the list -- and it's not hard to see why. 

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Yesterday, Democratic congressional candidate Scott Harper lost his race against 13th District GOP Rep. Judy Biggert by a ten point margin -- 54-44 percent.  Here's a statement he released this morning:

Although we fell short in our campaign for change, we came closer than any Democrat in more than two decades to winning back this seat and we made great strides that will undoubtedly help to change the political landscape of this district for years to come.

We are honored and humbled to have earned more votes than any Democratic candidate in the history of the 13th District and we are proud that we stayed focused on the issues that matter most.

Rose, a freckled, brown-haired field organizer, laughed when I asked what time she got up this morning. "Three-fifteen," she said with a slight grin. "But we didn't get to bed until 2:30."

Over the past week, staffers like Rose and a bevy of volunteers for Democrat Scott Harper's 13th District campaign have worked at a frenetic pace. When I arrived at at their Naperville-based headquarters just before 6 AM, 60 canvassers were already out in the field, posting signs and passing out campaign flyers. Throughout the day, the campaign plans to run phone banks from 14 office phones, dispatch volunteers for election protection, and hit targeted precincts with GOTV materials.

According to Harper, his campaign's enthusiasm matches that of the district's voters. "I've been out to train stations and coffee shops and I've knocked on doors," he told me, standing next to his daughter who had flown in from New York City, "and it feels like a lot of people out there want change."

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In a segment on the 13th Congressional District race tonight, ABC 7's Charles Thomas reported that GOP Rep. Judy Biggert is "openly worried about the effect of Democrat Barack Obama on her reelection campaign."  Thomas later featured a clip of Biggert playing up the potential split-tickets in the district (at least in terms of yard signs).  He wrapped up the segment by reporting that the Republican incumbents in tight contests in the Chicago suburbs are "no longer criticizing the Democratic presidential candidate, not wanting to antagonize so many Obama voters." Watch it:

(UPDATE: The Cook Political Report has downgraded IL-13 from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican.")

Speaking of Obama's support in the 13th District, Huffington Post Chicago highlights a tidbit we missed this morning: 

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Scott Harper released his first ad today and, I have to say, it's more visually engaging than any of the other congressional spots I've seen in Illinois this cycle:

Editorial boards at some of the state's largest papers have begun announcing their picks for Congress. The Beachwood Reporter's Steve Rhodes makes a good point when he says some of the choices will probably lead readers to check the front page to see if they've got the right paper

The Sun-Times, which describes the paper's editorial voice as "The Progressive Independent Conscience of the City," is backing Republican candidates in three out of the five most contentious congressional races it's weighed in on thus far. Meanwhile, the Tribune board is endorsing some liberal Democrats in three out of five of the state's most heated congressional contests. Following is a run-down (updated on 10/29):

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