Progress Illinois

The old expression “all politics is local” seems not applicable to the high-profile 8th congressional district race between U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-McHenry) and Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth.

Unlike in the 17th congressional district race in western Illinois or even the neighboring 10th district contest, there is little in the 8th district race that is of exclusive interest to those particular voters. The battle between Walsh and Duckworth instead has focused on major national issues such as Medicare and Social Security, with Chicago and national media attention often covering the money being funneled into the race or the latest histrionics of Walsh, including his outrageous comments last Thursday on abortion. Read more »

As election season heats up, the battle for control of Congress may come down to the outcome of several key races in Illinois.

With polls indicating President Barack Obama will more than likely win re-election and Democrats projected to maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate, Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are hopeful they can achieve a net gain of 25 seats in order to provide the President with a Democratic-controlled Congress going into a second term.

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This week, U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-McHenry) mocked Tammy Duckworth for an upcoming fundraiser in Santa Monica, California and holding a contest that allows an 8th district voter to win an expense paid trip to California to see the Democratic candidate speak.

The gambit is part of Tea Partier Walsh’s larger point that he is always in the 8th district, while Duckworth is the candidate of national Democratic power brokers.

But Duckworth campaign manager Kaitlin Fahey contends that money from so-called Super Political Action Committees is why Duckworth “is doing fundraising around the country.” Indeed, in the past week, Super PACs threw $1.03 million behind Walsh, according to information culled from the Center for Responsive Politics. Read more »