Congressional Candidate (Cegelis IL 6th) May Get Boot (by Dems)

[Chicago Democrat]

Lynn Sweet
Congressional candidate with cash shortage may get boot

October 18, 2005

BY LYNN SWEET SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Democratic congressional candidate Christine Cegelis delivered anemic third quarter fund-raising numbers, which means Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) will be shopping for another candidate to challenge her in the March primary.

Cegelis is running for the west and northwest suburban seat being vacated by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) in territory heavily Republican but with Democratic potential for 2006.

(snip)

Emanuel, as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- the political arm of the House Democrats -- faces the awkward prospect of trying to pull the carpet out from another local Democrat. Emanuel has been sending signals for months that if Cegelis' fund-raising did not improve, he may try to recruit a wealthy contender who could self-fund a campaign or find someone with better fund-raising potential.

Between January and Sept. 30, Cegelis -- currently the Democratic front-runner -- raised $159,885 and has $48,973 cash on hand, according to reports filed over the weekend.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet18.html