Whoever wins the Democratic primary in the 10th Congressional District is going to get some major assistance from the national party come the fall. Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee rolled out its list of 26 "races to watch" in 2010. IL-10 is considered one of just 17 "top races." "As these strong candidates continue building excitement for their campaigns to create jobs and help middle class families back home," writes executive director Jon Vogel in a statement, "the DCCC will help them become even more competitive in November."

Scott Harper, running again against Rep. Judy Biggert in the 13th district, got a vote of confidence from Washington as well. His race was added to the list of "emerging races," about seven months after a spokesperson for the DCCC praised the Naperville Democrat for proving he could "raise large sums of money and build grassroots support." The National Republican Congressional Committee had already added Biggert to its incumbent retention program. You can watch an interview we conducted with Harper last year here.