* Both of these endorsements are important in a Democratic primary, and neither will come with a whole lot of cash….
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Tuesday he will back Geneva scientist Bill Foster, and the Illinois AFL-CIO announced its support for Yorkville carpenter John Laesch in the 14th Congressional District Democratic primary election.
“As a scientist and businessman, Bill Foster will be a voice for common sense solutions in Congress,” Durbin said in a statement. “I’m proud to lend him my support and I look forward to working with Bill Foster to bring an end to the war in Iraq, pass affordable health care for all Americans and end our dependence on foreign oil.”
On Feb. 5, Foster will compete with Laesch, Genevan Joe Serra and St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein for the Democratic nomination to fill the seat formerly held by Rep. Dennis Hastert. […]
Also on Tuesday, the state AFL-CIO announced its backing for Laesch, who ran against Hastert in the 2006 general election.
The AFL-CIO listed the union carpenter among a group of national and local candidates the organization said “have long track records of standing up for workers’ rights, workplace safety, education, healthcare for all, fair trade and corporate accountability.”
Laesch is probably still struggling to gain some credibility after his gaffe-filled race in 2006, so the endorsement will help a lot. Foster has a hill to climb on name recognition, which Laesch already has because of the ‘06 bid, so the Durbin endorsement will help there.
* Meanwhile, Jim Oberweis was interviewed this week…
“I think there’s pretty good name recognition for the Oberweis name,” Oberweis said. “In fact, as I go door to door, It’s not unusual for people to, before I’m able to introduce myself, say ‘I know you.’”
I wonder what they say right after that. Anyway, back to the interview…
“As I’ve gone door to door, I’ve asked people what’s on their mind, and I really expected the war in Iraq to be the number one issue, and it wasn’t,” Oberweis said. “In fact, illegal immigration was the number one issue on people’s minds. I would say I get more questions on illegal immigration than on all other issues combined.”
People often hear what they want to hear, but he’s walking doors and I’m not, so I’ll take his word for it.
“I’m really an entrepreneur. I have really spent my life in business,” Oberweis said. “I’m not really a politician, and I never will be a politician.”
The jokes write themselves.
Oberweis is also attempting to assume the mantle of Denny Hastert, as this quote makes obvious…
Besides vying for the 14th Congressional seat, Oberweis also has run for state governor and [US] senate. He said he became interested in politics after Hastert encouraged him to run for [US] senate.
“My response was, ‘Well if Denny Hastert asks me to run and Peter Fitzgerald wants me to run and other Republicans want me to run, sure.’ I thought that was my way of saying no. But, two days later, I got a call from Denny Hastert asking me to get involved,” Oberweis said. “Since then, I have learned more. I have become more discouraged with the condition of the Republican party in Illinois, and I have become more and more committed to helping change that direction and trying to get candidates who are involved to serve the public instead of people who are involved to make money off of politic
Oberweis also promised to build an ice cream shop in the DeKalb-Sycamore area.
* In other news…
* Seals Beats Out Footlik For AFL-CIO Primary Endorsement
* Democrat Scott Harper Gets AFL-CIO Endorsement In IL-13
* Jill Morgenthaler Gets Key Labor Endorsement In IL-6
Discuss.