Race for Hastert's Seat Is Unexpectedly Close

[cal04]

Election Today in GOP-Held District
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...


In a race that has become surprisingly close, voters will decide today whether a Republican dairy magnate or a Democratic scientist will fill out the remainder of former Republican House speaker J. Dennis Hastert's term in Illinois' 14th District.

Democrat Bill Foster and Republican Jim Oberweis are virtually deadlocked in what should be a solidly Republican district in the northern Illinois exurbs, according to polls and political observers.

In the past few days, two independent political handicappers, Charlie Cook and Stuart Rothenberg, each have reassessed the contest as a toss-up instead of one that leans in favor of Oberweis. At least one poll has shown Foster with a slim lead in the final days of the campaign.


Polls Open In Special Election To Replace Hastert
Voters from the far west suburbs almost to the western edge of Illinois are going to the polls in a special Congressional election that is being watched closely all over the country.

As CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports, for the first time in decades, a Democrat has a real chance of winning the 14th Congressional seat, which was held until last year by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/14th.district.race.2.67...

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. "Race for Hastert's seat" - That sounds so Larry Craig-like.

[bluestateguy]

2. It will be nice for all of us to be on the same side in an election for a change

At least that's what I assume. We are all for Foster, right?

[mucifer]

3. yes no one likes the milk nazi

[madrchsod]

4. on my way to vote with in the hour

not many democrats in the hometown of st ronald...maybe his statue will be weeping tonight!

[cal04]

5. Democrats reporting irregularities in 14th District voting machines

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=150092

Democrats began reporting irregularities in voting late morning today during the 14th District special election in which Republican Jim Oberweis faces Democrat Bill Foster to replace retiring Dennis Hastert.

Justin Major, a voter protection lawyer for the Foster campaign, observed that the word "Republican" flashed on a touch-screen voting booth at Pioneer School at 615 Kenwood in West Chicago as though it was a primary election. The ballot was normal otherwise and the word came up only on the screen. Paper ballots were also available, and no problems were reported with the use of paper.

Major said the same problem was reported to him by election judges at St. Andrew's Country Club on Route 59 in West Chicago, at Faith Community Church at 910 Main St. in West Chicago, and at Wegner School, 1180 Marcella Lane in West Chicago.

"I wonder why the opponent is hitting the jackpot," Major said. "It really concerns me because this is such a tight race."

[BlooInBloo]

6. This was predicted to be close for months now.

[lame54]

7. Before sitting in Hastert's seat...

make sure the legs are stable - all that wear and tear

[truebrit71]

8. I saw a poll the other day that had Foster ahead by as much as 5%

...what a pick-up that would be....

[question everything]

9. But the Democrat won, right? (eom)

[TahitiNut]

10. Yes. 52% to 48% ... a comfortable margin. Only until January.

There will be another election, for the 'new' term beginning January, in November - the General Election.