[I’ve posted updated thoughts on the primary here.]
It’s too late for me to tally the money up properly, but it appears that Democrat John Laesch, out raised/loaned more than 10:1 by Democrat Bill Foster fell to Bill in the primary by 323 votes (Foster 31,910 and Laesch 31,587) in unofficial Chicago Tribune results. I called the race as I understood it - and I was flat out wrong about John Laesch’s prospects which I considered quite slim. I suspect I over-emphasized what I thought I learned from John’s previous congressional campaign in 2006.
There’s no doubt a lot to be learned from what happened in the race - and how John was able to overcome seemingly near impossible odds. As for now all I can say is John deserves tremendous credit for his totals. Win or lose John and his campaign showed results tonight. There’s wisdom in hedging what you think you know, since it’s often limited. While I sometimes argued forcefully, I always tried to allow that I might be wrong about John’s campaign, and I tried to be respectful in my disagreement. This approach is good policy in general and more so in this extraordinary case. It goes without saying that I’ll support the eventual Democratic nominee in the race - and for now, however impressed I am by John’s vote percentages, my support is still with Bill Foster.
Comments 5
I guess I’m a little surprised that it was that close in the special, but you could see that Laesch had a decent amount of grassroots support. Foster, in turn, is a pretty darn weak retail politician from the one time I met him. And the avalanche of Foster mailers got as tiresome as the screeching Laesch supporters on the intertubes.
Posted 06 Feb 2008 at 7:39 am ¶Exactly Stuck… and what’s striking is what little confidence so many bloggers showed in Laesch.
Foster is a horrible retail Pol and the only think going for him is Oberweis’s high negatives. He’s the candidate endoresed by the Hastert who claims McCain a closet Democrat.
great…
Posted 06 Feb 2008 at 10:13 am ¶PS in a race between millionaries like this, the notion Foster’s millions gave him some advatage over Laesch a real bust….
Posted 06 Feb 2008 at 10:14 am ¶Being a “businessman AND scientist” sure does have its advantages in providing enough $$ to pollute every mailbox in the Mighty 14th…several times.
But it’s not over yet.. especially considering the results from the City of Dim Bulbs c/o their election com..(oops, forgot about THAT ballot)..300 odd votes is a little close to call it over boys, don’t you think?
Laetsch fought tough, and I hope he pulls it out yet.
because:
After watching the “debates” at AU..with the fat boy’s official appointee doing the attack bitch on Lauzen (and was it just me, or were his last series of teewee adds pronouncing that name LOWZ-EN, as in “lous-y”, not his real name?) I was hoping to hear a real debate between Laetsch and the Grande’ Ice Cream King (flavor of the month: vanilla). I was actually relishing the idea.
Foster doesn’t have the stuff to overcome all that flab. speak up Bill..SAY something for christ sake.
As I am typing, the 3 time loser is on channel 11 yapping it up with Carol Marin..claiming the the repug race was all sweetness and light, because after all..”we all share the same values”..as opposed to his opponent “who is QUITE LIBERAL”… and wants to probably put fluoride in the water.
Is this a prelude to Billary vs GrandPa? stay tuned. It’s only febu-dreay.
Posted 06 Feb 2008 at 7:40 pm ¶It’s all about money though. Look at the results - two millionaires won. I’m just happy that Laesch DIDN’T win because he’s a Socialist & a megalomaniac, not a Democrat. The proof is in the pudding - He pulled the signatures of his last opponent and now he’s not ac cepting his loss. (what? me lose? impossible!) He hurts the Dems in this district more than he helps. I for one hope I never hear his name again.
Posted 07 Feb 2008 at 5:29 pm ¶Post a Comment