Illinois House races: Democrats see ‘path’ to majority; GOP sees ‘ground zero for a problem’
BY NATASHA KORECKI Political Reporter September 28, 2012 8:46PM
Republican candidate Joe Walsh (right) answers a question during an 8th congressional debate with Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth in September .File Photo | Steven Buyansky~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 1, 2012 6:41AM
With six competitive congressional races, there is a lot of attention focused on the Land of Lincoln.
Both the national committees for Republicans and Democrats are planning an intense battle over the next five weeks, with each poised to pour millions of dollars into the state’s congressional races. That’s besides SuperPAC money that’s also flowing the way of Illinois, some giving recent boosts to Republican incumbents Joe Walsh and Judy Biggert.
Five of the seats up for grabs are now held by Republicans. Since Democrats recently redrew congressional maps, there are more Democrats living in all of those districts. “The path to a Democratic majority goes through Illinois,” DCCC Chairman Steve Israel said in a statement. “Top-tier Democratic candidates across Illinois are already holding Republicans accountable for voting to end Medicare just to give tax breaks to billionaires.” However, last week, Israel tempered Democratic expectations, telling “Roll Call” he was confident in winning two seats.
The Republicans say that Downstate Democrats are vulnerable as the more conservative electorate has not been happy with Obama’s policies. Three of the six competitive races are three heater races in the greater Chicago area that will likely be a battle until the bitter end. Here’s a rundown:
One of the most-watched contests in the nation pits Tea Party Republican Joe Walsh, an incumbent in the north and northwest suburban 8th Congressional District, against Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat who has gained national recognition. The newly mapped district contains just about 27 percent of the old district.
While one poll has given Duckworth the lead, Walsh has recently benefitted from an infusion of SuperPAC money, totaling $1 million last week alone. The RNCC has also promised more than $457,000 to keep Walsh’s race competitive. Duckworth’s campaign recently criticized Walsh for getting the SuperPAC funding from “far right” groups. That salvo was launched after Walsh had hit Duckworth, saying she spent more time out of state than in the district. Last week, Walsh gave out a prize to a contributor, sending him to California to meet Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth had spoken at a veterans event in the state and spent a few days there. Walsh said it wasn’t a stunt, but a way to make a point. “I think it’s stunning that five weeks before the election she spent a week in California,” Walsh said. “I thought, what the heck, she’s giving a free, open-to-the-public speech in California. [It was] a fun way to make a very serious point.” Duckworth released a new ad this week featuring the double amputee on a bike with the promise that she would “go the extra mile.”
“It’s a beautiful commercial, but you watch it and you don’t know what it’s for,” he said. “Where does she stand on issues?” Duckworth could not be reached for comment, but a recent release listed a series of events she planned in the district over the next two weeks.
11th Congressional District
The race between Republican incumbent Judy Biggert and Democrat Bill Foster, an ex-incumbent in a nearby district, is almost a dead heat, according to one recent poll.
Incumbent Bob Dold (R-Ill.) is trying to hang on to the North Shore district that has had GOP representation for decades, despite strong pockets of liberal voters. The seat, once held by U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, is considered vulnerable, however. While early internal numbers from Dold’s campaign had him in the lead, the most recent numbers from a Democratic poll released in August showed Dold and his challenger Brad Schneider in a dead heat. The two have been running TV commercials and are expected to ratchet up spending in the next few weeks.
Downstate, where the Republicans believe they will fare better, three races are considered “competitive.”
In the 13th Congressional District in central Illinois, Democrat David Gill, who is a doctor, is pitted up against Rodney Davis, a Republican. The seat is considered up for grabs since it’s an open contest to succeed U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, a Republican who is retiring.
