Midwest
Roll Call Staff
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Both candidates have plenty of appetizing political fodder for their opponents. Ozinga owns numerous Chicago-area business interests and has worked the Windy City’s notoriously shadowy contracting system for years, handing out campaign cash to both parties in what’s locally termed “pay to play.”
But Halvorson’s perceived proximity to tarnished Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), himself a former House Member, continues to provide the Land of Lincoln GOP with no shortage of political hay. Blagojevich’s administration continues to face corruption allegations, pushing his popularity into the low double digits and dominating media coverage in Illinois. And for the state Senate leader’s campaign, every time scandal in Democratic-dominated Springfield leads the news, her campaign suffers, too.
14th district
Incumbent: Bill Foster (D)
1st term (53 percent)
Outlook: Likely Democratic
Foster, a demure physicist, vaulted from political obscurity earlier this year when he won a special election to replace retiring Speaker Dennis Hastert (R).
Considered sturdy GOP territory for decades, the seat is now comfortably in Democratic hands, a byproduct primarily of Hastert and other prominent Republicans backing of self-funder Jim Oberweis (R), a well-known local dairy owner whose deep pockets are attractive to political leaders but whose brash style has proved to be a turnoff to voters.
Since losing his fourth high- profile try for elected office in the special election in February — races in which he has spent millions of dollars of his own money — Oberweis has put his campaign on simmer and is showing few signs that he’ll devote significant additional resources, or shoe leather, to the race.
18th district
Open seat: Ray LaHood (R)
is retiring
Outlook: Likely Republican
A rare GOP recruiting bright spot this cycle, 27-year-old state Rep. Aaron Schock is expected to replace LaHood, who’s calling it quits after 14 years in Congress. In the general election, Schock is facing Colleen Callahan, a local broadcaster drafted by Democrats to replace once-promising recruit Dick Versace, a former professional basketball coach who abruptly ended his campaign earlier this year.
Since jumping into the race in early March, Callahan has struggled to compete with Schock on the fundraising front. Through June 30, Callahan raised $277,000 while Schock brought in more than $1.5 million.
Indiana
House
2nd district
Incumbent: Joe Donnelly (D)
1st term (54 percent)
Outlook: Likely Democratic
Though once a target early on in the cycle for Republicans, Donnelly appears to be coasting to re-election.
His opponent, businessman Luke Puckett (R), has a campaign bank account in the hole. A quirky primary against a Nazi sympathizer took the spotlight from Puckett, who has already put $157,000 of his own funds into the race.
Donnelly won’t have to work hard to keep his seat for another two years.
3rd district
Incumbent: Mark Souder (R)
7th term (54 percent)
Outlook: Likely Republican
Democrats claim Souder, who had a closer-than-expected race in 2006 against a Fort Wayne city councilman, can lose his northeast Indiana seat this year. But it still looks like a long shot.
Attorney Mike Montagano is the Democratic nominee this time. Initially boosted by promising fundraising numbers, Montagano continues to trail Souder significantly in the polls.
Still, Democrats argue that Montagano has a chance if they do well in the state at the presidential level and if former Rep. Jill Long Thompson (D) performs well in her old district in her gubernatorial bid. Montagano also ended July with more money in the bank than Souder: $352,000 compared with $323,000.
The Congressman, however, is not taking his challenge lightly, and though Democrats continue to target him, it’s likely this district is not winnable for the party any more than it was during Long Thompson’s days in office.
8th district
Incumbent: Brad Ellsworth (D)
1st term (61 percent)
Outlook: Likely Democratic
Once considered a competitive district, it appears Ellsworth is getting a free pass to re-election. Republicans nominated university lobbyist Greg Goode to challenge the former sheriff, but his fundraising has been disappointing, to the say the least. At the end of July, he had about $50,000 in the bank.
Schumer Advocates for Many on Panel
Nov. 16, 12 a.m.
As Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson once said of the Joint Economic Committee, “It’s as useless as tits on a bull.” But as that panel’s chairman during the 110th Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized the opportunity to elevate the traditionally low-profile post to the forefront of shaping policy. Read Full Article
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