Today, Congressional Quarterly updated its ratings for three House races here in Illinois. The big news surrounds the 13th District contest, which was upgraded from "Safe Republican" to "Leans Republican." CQ highlighted Democrat Scott Harper's solid fundraising and concluded "this a race to keep an eye on for signs of increased competitiveness."
CQ also shifted the 8th District race in the Democrats' direction (from "Leans Democratic" to "Democrat Favored"):
CQ Politics is giving two-term Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean a more decisive advantage in a contest against Republican businessman Steve Greenberg. Republican strategists were initially very high on Greenberg, but they are talking about this race less frequently, in part because Greenberg hasn’t raised the kind of money needed to take on Bean in a suburban Chicago district that falls in a pricey media market.
Meanwhile, the 11 District contest moved from "Democrat Favored" to"Leans Democratic." CQ asserted that GOP candidate Marty Ozinga has "done good job playing catch-up," adding: "[Democrat Debbie] Halvorson was more decisively favored earlier this year, after the original Republican nominee for the seat withdrew shortly after winning the February primary election. CQ Politics still gives Halvorson the edge, but this race will be highly competitive."
(H/T Prairie State Blue)
Anonymous on Sat, 07/26/2008 - 04:51
Halverson's weak performance as deputy to Sen. President Emil Jones will continue to haunt her. Democrats concerned about the timidity of their party in Congress shoud know that she gives new meaning to the term "weak sister". Halverson is not someone you want with you in the foxhole; she only takes up space
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