Dear Mukto-mona readers:
This election news from Illinois is a harbinger of sea change to come in the fall 2008. Our Bangladeshi conservatives who think a conservative Republican candidate is going to capture the White House in November election are oblivious to the ground reality of electorate sentiments. Indeed, a big change is coming.
A.H. Jaffor Ullah
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Dem. wins election to fill Hastert seat
By Deanna Bellandi, Associated Press Writer
March 8, 2008
CHICAGO - A longtime Republican district fell to the Democrats Saturday when a scientist snatched former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's congressional seat in a closely watched special election.
CHICAGO - A longtime Republican district fell to the Democrats Saturday when a scientist snatched former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's congressional seat in a closely watched special election.
Democrat Bill Foster won 52 percent of the vote compared to 48 percent for Republican Jim Oberweis. With 564 of 568 precincts reporting, Foster had 50,947 votes to Oberweis' 46,125.
Foster's special election win means he will fill the remainder of Hastert's term, which ends in January. The two will square off again in November, for a new, full term.
The 66-year-old Hastert, who lost his powerful post as speaker when Democrats took control of Congress, resigned late last year.
The race between Foster and Oberweis spawned a contentious campaign that saw both men turn to high-profile supporters to help sway voters in the longtime GOP district.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made a TV ad praising Foster; Oberweis had fundraising help from the apparent Republican nominee, John McCain, and Hastert's backing.
"It is a stunning rejection of the Bush Administration, its Republican allies, and presidential nominee John McCain," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen in a statement.
The district will have a rookie congressmen after years of enjoying Hastert's clout.
During his 21 years in Washington, Hastert funneled millions of dollars to the district that stretches from Chicago's far western suburbs to almost the Mississippi River.
Hastert's is one of three open seats in Illinois this year because of GOP retirements.
Reps. Jerry Weller, who represents a district from the suburban sprawl south of Chicago to the farmland of central Illinois, and Ray LaHood of Peoria are also stepping down. Democrats' chances to pick up one of those seats improved when the Republican nominee to replace Weller dropped out of the race.
Besides poking at each other with negative TV ads, Foster and Oberweis have clashed on issues from immigration and health care to the Iraq war.
During a recent TV appearance, Foster said he would be a "good vote in Congress to change President Bush's policy" on Iraq. Oberweis contended the troop surge there was working, saying: "Things are getting better in Iraq."
Oberweis also has blasted Foster for being a proponent of big government because Foster says he wants to move toward universal health care. Foster claims Oberweis' approach — he favors tax incentives to help people buy their own insurance — only works for people who are "healthy and wealthy."
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