Animal Farm

FreedomWorks, one of the main organization's behind tea parties and the backlash against President Barack Obama's health care reform push, just sent out an urgent e-mail to its very active members to call 21 House Democrats it considers "swing votes."
Suburban residents may be surprised to not find U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Batavia or U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington on the list.
Both have said they are open to voting for a reform package that includes a public insurance option, depending on the details. Both have also been protested against vigorously in the last two months from both sides of the debate.

A key to winning a Republican statewide primary is wooing suburban voters -- both the establishment and the activists.
Several nods from the establishment have been rolling in for GOP candidates for governor and Animal Farm will keep you up to date.
Thursday night, Schaumburg Township GOP precinct captains voted to endorse Dan Proft, a conservative commentator with suburban ties from Chicago. Proft called it a "big win" for his campaign, which so far has lacked the funding and name recognition with voters that other challengers posses.
Meanwhile, former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna roped in a nod from Lake County GOP Chairman Dan Venturi earlier this week. McKenna said in a statement that the endorsement gives his campaign "momentum.

While Republicans in the suburbs departed from their Democratic counterparts on the massive stimulus measure earlier this year, they all supported the extension of unemployment checks and the expansion of the home buyers tax credit today.
The 403-12 vote sends a measure to President Barack Obama that will extend unemployment compensation for another 20 weeks - increasing to nearly 2 years the length of time the jobless can can in get benefits.
The legislation also continues the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers another 5 months and creates a $6,500 credit for current homeowners who want to purchase a new house. Plus, businesses will be allowed to extended loss deductions over more years.

Former state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger filed recently to take back his Elgin-based seat, setting up a general election battle with Democrat Mike Noland.

And he is already getting into the game, posting a series of Web video chats about issues. There are several candidates for statewide office who haven't even done that yet.

Here is a look at Rauschenberger on jobs and the economy for your enjoyment.

The Daily Herald covers about 32 suburban House and Senate seats up for election next year. With petitions now in to get on the ballot, we have dug behind the names to learn more about what voters can expect this primary and into the general election.

What we have found is top Democrats and Republicans have recruited seemingly quality candidates to challenge several incumbents and make a run at a few open seats. That will mean a plethora of costly suburban contests in 2010.

Animal Farm will run a series of peeks at suburban legislative races over the next several days.

Here is the first batch:

House

Republican Seats

41st District

The Daily Herald reported last week that former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan will file petitions to enter the GOP race for governor.
That appears to still be the plan.
Ryan spokesman Dan Curry just released a notice tonight saying Ryan's petitions will make Monday's deadline and the Elmhurst Republican will kick off his campaign Tuesday in Springfield.

Most of the complaining about the campaign finance plan the Senate approved Friday came from Republicans. But Quad-Cities Democrat Mike Jacobs tore into the plan, questioning why lawmakers were worried about restricting campaign cash in the 2012 races when the state budget is broke right now and nothing’s being done.

He called the deal a political trick worthy of Simon Bar Sinister’s cartoon efforts to foil Underdog.

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