Bill Foster's Triumph

This is a big deal.

This won't be an extensive diary post, but I feel as much attention as can be given to Bill Foster taking over Denny Hastert's seat, the better.

This is an amazing victory for Foster and the Democratic party. This is a VERY republican district gerrymandered of mostly wealthy upscale suburban, exurban, and rural areas. This district voted only 44% for Kerry in 2004 and  only 40% for the last Democratic challenger for the House seat in 2006. Foster won just short of 53% of the vote. See http://www.cqpolitics.com/... for district demographics.

It is a huge upset. Bill Foster is a virtual unknown. Jim Oberweis is a household name as owner of a factory farm mega-dairy and a chain of ice cream stores, all with his name (every grocery store in northern Illinois has Oberweis-brand milk). Oberweis previously ran in the gubernatorial and senatorial primary campaigns. Oberweis out-raised and out-spent Foster by at least a third. The national parties both spent heavily on the campaign.

It is also a clear referendum On Bush and a signal of what is to come in November. The Foster-Oberweis race was about continuing verses changing the Bush policies. Obama campaigned for Foster and McCain campaigned for Oberweis. Foster ran on a theme of change from the Bush policies of tax cuts for the wealthy and getting troops out of Iraq. Oberweis ran on "the surge is working in Iraq" and "Foster will tax you into poverty" themes. (One Oberweis television ad claimed that Foster would raise taxes an average of $2,000 per family) These will be some of the major themes (and Republican smear tactics) in the November general election and both parties treated this special election as a dress rehearsal.

This election is a preview of what a Obama vs. McCain election will be. It shows the powerful coattails Obama will bring to campaigns nationwide when he becomes the nominee.