New Print Edition: Illinois 11 & Kansas 3

The February 8, 2008 print edition of the Rothenberg Political Report is on its way to subscribers. The print edition comes out every two weeks and the content is not available online. Subscribers get in-depth analysis of the most competitive races in the country, as well as quarterly House and Senate ratings, and coverage of the gubernatorial races nationwide. To subscribe, simply click on the Google checkout button on the website or send a check.

Here is a brief sample of what's in this edition...

Illinois 11: Raising the Stakes
By Nathan L. Gonzales

If you look up “Republican headaches” in the dictionary, you’ll probably see a picture of Illinois’ 11th District. Last fall, Cong. Jerry Weller announced that he would not seek reelection, leaving Republicans with an open seat to defend in the very expensive Chicago media market.

Meanwhile, Democrats successfully recruited State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson into the race, and she is proving to be a tenacious fundraiser. New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann coasted through the GOP primary last week, but faces a steep fundraising gap…and the possibility that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama might be on his party’s national ticket. Get the whole story in the print edition.

Kansas 3: Moore Vulnerable?

Republicans in Kansas haven’t been able to agree on much over the past few years, but it looks as if they might be rallying behind a common cause: defeating Congressman Dennis Moore (D).

Since his initial election to the 3rd District, Republicans have set their sights on the Democratic congressman. The problem is that usually too many Republicans want to take him on and a bitter primary fight between moderates and conservatives ensues.

Meanwhile, Moore continued to solidify himself in a Republican-leaning district. But this cycle, state Sen. Nick Jordan is the likely Republican nominee, and he won’t have to wrestle a member of his own party for it.

There is no question that Moore has proven his ability to win, but he sits in the kind of district that could be vulnerable to a drag from the top of the Democratic ticket. Get the whole story in the print edition.