First, I should say that I have taken over as Blog Team Coordinator for the John Laesch campaign. (Yes, again, for those who remember the 2006 cycle.) So, hi, again. ;)
Our campaign got a great surprise today when we read the Chicago Sun-Times. Columnist Dick Simpson seems to think that John is the one to beat in the race to fill Dennis Hastert's former seat in his article, "Progressives moving on up."
For those who don't know of him, Dick Simpson is head of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Political Science Department. He is also a former Chicago alderman, author, progressive leader and columnist for the Chicago Sun–Times. Simpson won his Alderman race despite running against a much better financed candidate. His accomplishments as Alderman include ending salary discrimination in the city budget for women holding the same jobs as men, budget amendments to provide better funding and speedier opening of day-care centers, and programs to help the homeless and the hungry.
Simpson basically echoes everything we already knew about politics: Money isn't everything. What matters most is who supports you, your ground game, and strong positions on the issues.
Simpson listed some of John's more prominent endorsements:
Laesch has the endorsements of progressive luminaries Dr. Quentin Young and Studs Terkel, the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization, local unions and [many of] the district's Democratic Party precinct committeemen.
For those who weren't aware, we have also received endorsements from VETPAC, DAPAC, PDA (IL-14 and Chicago chapters), and the Illinois AFL-CIO, as well as the personal endorsements of Barbara Ehrenreich (author of "Nickel and Dimed" and noted progressive talk show host Mike Malloy. There are also a couple more endorsements coming down the line very soon... be watching for them!
Simpson believes that this support, coupled with John's ground game and positions on the issues, put him in a position to win the primary and make him "the most formidable candidate against arch-conservative, anti-immigrant, four-time loser Jim Oberweis, who is running with Hastert's support."
Of course John could always use a little help on the ground so if you want to pitch in for the final stretch to the February 5th primary, you can do so by volunteering and/or contributing.
Thanks,
flautist (aka Kristen Lash)
Blog Team Coordinator
John Laesch for US Congress