State senator announces bid to replace Hyde in Congress

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. State Senator Peter Roskam says he will run for the congressional seat being vacated by Henry Hyde.

Roskam was first elected to the state Legislature in 1993. He is among its most articulate voices for conservative positions on gun control, abortion and more.

He has also been a frequent critic of Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich).

Moderate state Senator Carole Pankau (PAYNK'-ow) might challenge him for the Republican nomination. And the 2004 Democratic nominee is likely to run again.

Roskam was once a congressional aide to Hyde, who has represented the suburban Chicago district since 1974.

Is Roskam good? I'd like to see someone more pro-2a than Hyde take his spot, but I know DuPage County isn't a gimme anymore, not to mention the shape of the Illinois GOP.

Good luck to the good guys out there, whoever they may be.

Roskam is considered the front runner. He is scheduled to speak at my church this coming Sunday.

Roskam used to be a staff worker for Hyde. In 1998, Roskam moved to Naperville, IL to run in the IL-13. He portrayed himself as the real conservative as opposed to RINO Judy Biggert. Gary Bauer and James Dobson (as private citizens) mailed letters of endorsements to churchgoers in the district to support Roskam. In the end, Judy Biggert won the GOP primary and the general election. When a State Senate vacated in 1999, Roskam immediately jumped for it and won the seat. Now, he is planning on fulfilling his dream of becoming the Heir to Hyde's seat which is the job he wanted in the first place.

One weakness of Roskam would be the legal work he did for Tom Delay. The RATS are planning on linking Roskam to Delay's problems and say "A vote for Roskam, gives Congressional power to the Unethical Delay."

I doubt it will work since most people outside Delay's Houston district don't know who he is. Plus there are lot of churches growing in the district. The IL-06 is home to Wheaton College (Billy Graham's Alma Mater) and Tyndale Bible Publishing. Thus, aligning yourself with the religious right is not political poison. The Il-06 may not be as Republican as it used to be, but there is enough of a GOP base here to insulate a social conservative from the standard charges of extremism.

Investment Banker David McSweeny is running in the Il-08. Last Saturday, I heard him do a radio interview. He sounded like a decent candidate. He called himself, a "Reagan Republican".

On the flip side, IL-10 Congresscritter Mark Kirk is trying to clear the GOP field for his favorite, businesswoman Teresa Bartels. Krik is claiming a moderate pro-choice woman like Bartels is the GOP's only hope to beat Bean.

Unfortunately, Hyde's CD gave Bush only 53% in each of 2000 and 2004, making it quite competitive. But you're correct that it is still conservative and Republican enough that the winner of the GOP primary would be the favorite in the general election.

After reading what you wrote, I support Roskam 100%. I hope his victory in the 6th district and a conservative's victory against Bean will encourage a well funded conservative to take on RINOs Mark Kirk in the 10th and Judy Biggert in the 13th.

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