NYT on Walsh

Congressman Joe Walsh keeps getting national attention. This time, it's from a story in the New York Times, that details some of the GOP freshman's financial problems despite his anti-deficit rhetoric.

They don't bring up much you haven't seen Kerry and Russell Lissau report already - child support, foreclosure, suspended driver's license.

But toward the end, we get a quick peek at what his primary campaign against fellow Republican freshman Rep. Randy Hultgren might be like.

Walsh fires the opening shot, which isn't too harsh:

While the new map is being challenged in court, Mr. Walsh said that he was prepared to force Mr. Hultgren into a primary — and that he would be the clear favorite because Mr. Hultgren voted too often with party leaders.

“As a freshman you pick your poison,” Mr. Walsh said, “and maybe leadership is going to help him raise money or open some doors for him and in exchange for that he’s going to give them his vote.”

OK, tie him to the establishment at a time when some voters are mad at the establishment. But Hultgren pulls no punches firing back.

Mr. Hultgren, who has more than 15 years’ experience in state and local government, brushes off the accusations. “Using a leadership style that emulates Rod Blagojevich or Barack Obama, Joe likes to govern ineffectively though press releases, sound bites, political grandstanding, and name calling,” said his campaign spokesman, Andrew Flach. “He certainly does not lead by example.”

Whoa. You'd expect some Barack Obama rhetoric in a federal campaign. But pulling out the other "B" word?

Blagojevich?

This will be a spirited march to, uh, March, when primary voters will pick one or the other.