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Hastert Likely to Announce Resignation By Lauren W. Whittington and Matthew Murray Roll Call Staff Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007
Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is expected to announce Thursday that he is resigning his seat in Congress effective later this year, eventually setting up a special election to succeed him, knowledgeable GOP sources said late Wednesday.
"It's not a lie if you believe it." -- George Costanza The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves. --Bertrand Russel
Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) officially announced today his retirement from the House in 2008, and prospective candidates are already lining up to try to enter that powerful seat.
Republicans expected to get in: State Senator Chris Lauzen, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, Ex Senator Craig who announced he will giving up his seat in 2008, again, and will establish residency in a state more in line with his Ill core values, and dairy businessman Jim Oberweis, who ran udderly unsuccessfully for the Republican nominations for Senate in 2002 and 2004, and for governor in 2006. If Oberweis runs it could be entertaining indeed — his Senate campaigns were characterized by a Tancredoesque focus on illegal immigrants.
And on the Dem side? Dems appear to be lining up behind retired Fermi. lab scientist Bill Foster, who would be able to use his personal wealth to fund a healthy chunk of his campaign. The Democrats' original preferred candidate, state Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, has already said she won't run.
Bottom line: The GOP is favored to keep this suburban Chicago district, which voted 55%-44% for George W. Bush in 2004, unless Alan Keyes gets into the seat race in the unlikely event he is not tapped for the GOP prez nomennation.
However, Illinois Democrats might benefit from a coattail effect if Barack Obama were tapped for president, making the seat a potential pickup.
TAT
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Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert confirmed Thursday that he won't complete his 11th term in the House -- and may resign before his term is over.
Hastert told reporters that he thinks he'll be "gone by the first of the year."
Earlier, in a floor speech that he said would be his last, he offered a farewell to his colleagues, and indicated that his resignation would come soon.
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