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Democrat Collin Peterson in MN ran four times (1984/86/88/90) before he finally beat the GOP incumbent (though he was the nominee three times -- the DFL thought he was a has-been on his 3rd run in '88 and defeated him in the primary. Ditto Ted Strickland in OH, who was a perennial candidate by 1992 (having lost in 1976, 1978 and 1980). He was technically a "fluke" winner in '92 because of an ugly internecine battle between two GOP incumbents when their districts were merged (and he lost again in 1994, only to narrowly come back in 1996 and go on to win the Governorship). So there are many examples of candidates who perennial try for office. Most don't win, of course, but some manage to.

>> Frank Wolf, the wonderful guy who has now served 16 terms in the House, lost in 1976 and 1978 before being swept into office in 1980, beating out incumbent “Pink Joe” Fisher. I was a precinct captain in Arlington, which at that time was part of Virginia’s 10th District, Frank’s district. <<
>> there are many examples of candidates who perennial try for office. Most don't win, of course, but some manage to. <<

I think Joe Walsh himself was a "third time's the charm" guy when he won in 2010 after losing two previous races (it was for different offices though). He also had run as a more "moderate" Republican in his past campaigns. Many of us backed Maria Rodriquez over Walsh in the primary for that reason. I must admit he's FAR exceeded my expectations though.

>> I can think of a couple of Democrats who were “third time lucky”, both in the South Bend, Indiana area. John Brademas took three elections to finally win (in the ‘Rat year of 1958) and Joe Donnelly took three elections before he finally knocked off “Count Chocula” Chris Chocola in the ‘Rat year of 2006. <<
>>> Democrat Collin Peterson in MN ran four times (1984/86/88/90) before he finally beat the GOP incumbent (though he was the nominee three times -- the DFL thought he was a has-been on his 3rd run in '88 and defeated him in the primary. Ditto Ted Strickland in OH, who was a perennial candidate by 1992 (having lost in 1976, 1978 and 1980). He was technically a "fluke" winner in '92 because of an ugly internecine battle between two GOP incumbents when their districts were merged (and he lost again in 1994, only to narrowly come back in 1996 and go on to win the Governorship). <<

::shudders:: You guys are giving me nightmares that we'll NEVER be rid of Ducky, even if she is loses again in a now RAT majority district. Rahm might run her for some SUPER moonbat district and give his hand-picked sock puppet the nomination for Schakowsky's district after she retires (Ducky CAN'T lose that district... can she?)

One RAT I wish would run a fourth time is Obama wannabe Dan Seals. The only reason he was "competitive" in Kirk's district in the first place was the big Dem turnout in 2006 and 2008. The RATs need to run this douchebag loser for some statewide office so the pathetic IL GOP will win it even if they have a lousy candidate.

>> Rep. Walsh will easily win. All of the voters, in the new 8th Dist., have a republican congressman, Walsh, Dold, Roskam, or Hultgren. The majority of those voters have a republican state senator, Pankau, Murphy, or Dillard. <<

Interesting. I read somewhere that the overall voting pattern of the new 8th is about 52% Democrat, strange that they managed to cobble it together from existing pieces of other GOP districts. They must have taken the Democrat areas, since I read the new IL-6, Roskam's district, is now super Republican (the RATs claim they're going to win it anyway) I would have assumed the RATs "borrowed" neighborhoods from safe RAT districts and gave a big chunk of Quigley's Chicago machine constituents to Walsh's district or something.