When I recently visited Democrat Scott Harper’s Naperville campaign headquarters the place was full of activity. Volunteers lined a table in the middle of the office stuffing envelopes. Staffers typed intently or made calls from their desks. It was a Thursday morning, five and a half months before Election Day, but the atmosphere was charged and the group was focused. This fact alone should give Illinois Republicans pause.
Harper is running to represent the 13th Congressional District, which has long been a GOP stronghold. Once represented by none other than former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the seat is currently held by five-term Republican Judy Biggert.
But the tide might be turning. Democrat Bill Foster's upset victory in the neighboring 14th District, along with a national and local trend to the left, has many people predicting that Harper can defeat Biggert. Early indicators are hopeful. The campaign boasted record-breaking fundraising numbers in their first quarter, and the district has been included in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's (DCCC) list of targeted seats in November. Adding to this momentum is Harper’s contention that he will fight harder than any of the district's previous Democratic candidates to ensure his message is heard.
A native son of the 13th, Harper has traveled the world during the course of his career. A successful business owner and entrepreneur, he is also an aspiring scholar in the field of social ethics.
To give our readers a better understanding of the first-time candidate, I sat down with Harper to learn more about the Democratic reawakening in the collar counties, his growing volunteer force, and why the DCCC is focusing on the race. We also discussed a variety of policy matters including Iraq, the importance of electricity in any national energy policy, and how his experience with manufacturing helped shape his economic views.
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