Congratulations to Democrat Bill Foster for winning the special election in Illinois congressional district 14 - a seat that, until his resignation, belonged to Dennis Hastert, the former Republican Speaker of the House!
This district is heavily Republican. John McCain came out and campaigned for the Republican candidate, Jim Oberweis. Yet Foster won comfortably, 53% to 47%.
The results are extremely bad news for Republicans heading into the general election season. If they can't hold on to a seat formerly held by the man who was second in line for the presidency (after the V.P.) in a district that tilts heavily to the Republicans, then they have their work cut out for them this November.
For the Democrats this is good news all around, but doubly so if Barack Obama is the presidential nominee. Obama campaigned for Foster, helped raise funds, and taped some TV ads for him. You can't deny his coat tails helped here, and would help congressional candidates elsewhere around the country this November.
Even if we lose the White House in November, the person listed at the top of the ticket still has the ability to increase the margins of the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. And, without question, that presidential candidate is Barack Obama. He proved his coattail might in this special congressional race. Hillary Clinton, in contrast, would more than likely hurt Democratic congressional candidates, and would probably flip the Senate back to Republican rule. And America can't afford that.
But for this Sunday let us celebrate the election of Bill Foster to congress. Congrats on a hard won victory, sir!
