(Added "How we can Make IL-13 Competitive" to the title. - promoted by wegerje)
Il-13 truly has a viable, ideologically correct candidate with the means to focus all of his energies on the campaign for the next 13 months.
Now the unpleasantries. Although on this web page we are all into ideaology, in the outside world viability is measured by the funds one raises. The magic "attention getter" is about $100,000 early money on the FEC report. September 30 is the end of the next reporting period. Scott Harper has loaned his campaign $50,000. The rest of us need to match that--and we have a bit over two weeks to put our money where our mouths are. We've griped for years that we did not have credible candidates(Yep,I was even griping in 2004):). We have one now. Many PACS and Senators will not even talk to candidates until they know they can raise funds. We have no time to discuss whether or not that is fair. If 500 people give $100. each you in the next two weeks you may end up with a democratic Congressman. If you can give more-do so--and no donation is too little--because the number of donations is also listed on the FEC report. If you fund a candidate you will vote for them-ultimately votes become the bottom line.
In 2002 with little campaining the d received 29% of the vote, in 2004 with $35,000 the candidate received 35% of the vote---and last election Joe Shannon received 42% of the vote after spending $50,000. A well funded well managed campaign can win. Scott Harper has an MBA, a successful business background and a management team in place. The demographics have changed in the district. Will County's population has been growing and they have elected more and more democrats. DuPage is ready to turn and was just waiting for a real candidate. You have one. Fund him.
There are many differences between politicians. For many American citizens voting this year, the differences between Democrats and Republicans are extremely vague. Some voters see unequivical differences.
