The race in Illinois' 14th District just got VERY INTERESTING. First of all, earlier in the day John "100 Years of War" McCain announced he was coming to IL-14 on Feb 20 to raise $200k for the wingnut's wingnut, Jim Oberweis to try and hold on to Denny Hastert's seat for the Republicans in the upcoming March 8th special election.
However, Bill Foster's campaign just announced that Barack Obama has shot a commercial supporting Bill Foster.
The Press release is after the flip....
(Geneva, IL) - The campaign of scientist and businessman Bill Foster announced that Democratic presidential candidate and Illinois favorite son Barack Obama has cut a broadcast TV ad stating that Foster can "deliver change" in Congress.
"Barack Obama and I stand together for change. We want our troops home safely and responsibly, not in Iraq for 10 years or 100 years. We want to invest in American jobs, not send American jobs to China. We want health care that costs less, not an end to employers paying for health care for their workers," said Foster, a physicist who worked at Fermilab in Batavia for 20 years after starting a successful theater light company with his brother that has created hundreds of jobs in the Midwest.
The 30-second Obama endorsement spot is a positive ad that clearly establishes Foster as the change candidate in the special election to replace retired Congressman and former House Speaker Denny Hastert in Illinois' 14th Congressional District.
The Aurora Beacon News reported yesterday that a Foster poll has the March 8 special election in a "dead heat," with Foster leading 49-27% among Independents. The poll also showed that 41% of voters have a negative view of Foster's opponent, Jim Oberweis, after years of running campaigns for office that have featured negative, personal attacks on his fellow Republicans -- even using a fake headline to attack his opponents.
"Voters want a positive choice for change. Barack and I offer that kind of change and I am thrilled he has cut a TV ad for my campaign," Foster said.
Bill is an end-the-war, pro Move-on, DLC rejecting, Obama supporting, scientist who has been willing to put up some of his own cash to turn this seat blue. He's one of the few congressional candidates I know of who has given his campaign staff health care and benefits....AND he ran a positive primary campaign.
He has not only received Obama's endorsement, he has amazing support within the science community; he's received all the union endorsements, Planned Parenthood, NARAL, Dick Durbin, tons of local support from electeds and the local blogs. All the local Dem leaders have fallen in behind Bill because they know what is at stake.
Anyway, back to the Special. This election has quickly turned into a battle between those who want to stay in Iraq and those who want out.
Here are Bill's ads so far:
Note that the word DEMOCRAT is featured on Bill's ads.....
Foster's Blue Plate Special
To counter McCain's visit to raise money from big donors,we are generating a virtual fundraising event, titled Foster's Blue Plate Special. I rather doubt McCain will raise 200k...and our counter raising has a modest goal at the moment.
It costs $1000 a plate for the McCain event, we want to raise five plates for BIll....to get 1000 people to give $5.00...or more.
Bill had more low dollar donors than anyone who was in the primary ....Dem or Rep...and we'd like to have a bit of counter publicity around McCain coming to the District. The Republicnas obviously think this election is important nationally...important enough for McCain to come and campaign.
This is the first Congressional race of the 2008 cycle and it is a Dead Heat.
Think about the headlines if on March 9 if they read.....Hastert's Seat is now occupied by a DEMOCRAT. The implied headline would be, There are no safe Republican seats in November.
I've set up an ActBlue Page for the event.
I know everyone is focused on the Presidential Race and all the House and Senate races to come in November....But this election is less than one month away and it will set the narrative for the entire election cycle.
Please join us.
Disclaimer: I am working with the Foster Campaign.