[Kuksool]

The current gerrymander in IL actually favors the GOP. 10 GOP congresscritters out of a possible 19 is the most we can obtain. If the Daley political machine really wanted to play hardball, they could draw Rep. John Shimkus (IL-19), Rep. Jerry Weller (IL-11). and Rep. Mark Kirk (IL-10) into retirement. Moreover, the IL RATS could also make the GOP-leaning districts of Henry Hyde (IL-06) and Judy Biggert (IL-13) into more marginal districts. Let's hope the IL RATS won't follow the lead of Texas.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Let's hope the IL RATS won't follow the lead of Texas."

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They'd have to wait until 2010, since the IL legislature already approved a map in 2002 (at the time, the Senate and the Governorship were Republican, and the House was Democrat. It was a bipartisan map drawn by Congressmen Hastert and Lipinski.

But you're right, Kuksool, the RATs could have endangered Shimkus, Weller and Kirk, and then some.