A REPUBLICAN GETS THE BOOT

I GOT SERVED!

OBAMA BACKER WINS HOUSE SEAT IN REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD

CHICAGO - A longtime Republican district fell to the Democrats yesterday when a scientist snatched former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's congressional seat in a closely watched special election.

Democrat Bill Foster won 52 percent of the vote, compared with 48 percent for Republican Jim Oberweis. With 564 of 568 precincts reporting, Foster had 50,947 votes to Oberweis' 46,125.

Foster's victory means he will fill the remainder of Hastert's term, which ends in January. The two will square off again in November for a full term.

The 66-year-old Hastert, who lost his post as speaker when Democrats took control of Congress, resigned late last year.

The race between Foster and Oberweis spawned a contentious campaign that saw both men turn to high-profile supporters to help sway voters in the longtime GOP district.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made a TV ad praising Foster; Oberweis had fundraising help from the apparent Republican nominee, John McCain, and Hastert's backing.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat who is chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement, "It is a stunning rejection of the Bush administration, its Republican allies, and presidential nominee John McCain."

The district will have a rookie congressmen after years of enjoying Hastert's influence.

During his 21 years in Washington, Hastert funneled millions of dollars to the district that stretches from Chicago's far western suburbs almost to the Mississippi River.

Foster and Oberweis had clashed on issues from immigration and health care to the Iraq war.

During a recent TV appearance, Foster said he would be a "good vote in Congress to change President Bush's policy" on Iraq.

Source: http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Obama_backer_wins_House_seat_in_Rep_03092008.html