Despite Dennis Hastert's recent difficulties, Democrat John Laesch still has a difficult, uphill battle in his bid to unseat the House Speaker.
But all is not hopeless and there's a precedent to prove it. See why on the jump.
The 14th district remains a Republican stronghold where Hastert is genuinely liked and strongly backed. Hastert has deep local roots, has brought home the bacon and many like the clout that he represents.
And it's an odd district that extends from far western Chicago suburbia/exurbia through rural and small town regions towards the Mississippi River.
But even as it may seem impossible to dislodge Hastert, there's a precedent that perhaps hasn't yet filtered into the darkest dreams of local Republicans.
It happened in 1974, when Democrat Tim Hall, a schoolteacher from Dwight, Ill., rode disgust over the Watergate scandal to beat a heavily-favored Republican and win a seat representing much of the same region that makes up much of today's 14th.
And nobody saw it coming.
Will history repeat? Tapping into today's voter anger over Foleygate and other GOP follies is Laesch's great hope -- and opportunity.