War hero may run for 6th Congressional District

A war hero wounded while fighting in Iraq may run for the seat that will soon be vacated by Congressman Henry Hyde (R). Illinois Democrats want Major Tammy Duckworth to enter the race. She cannot announce her decision publicly until she is officially released from active duty with the National Guard.

Democrat Christine Cegelis, a computer consultant from the northwest suburbs, ran a strong but unsuccessful race two years ago against Republican icon Henry Hyde for a seat in the 6th Congressional District. While Cegelis is giving it another try, Chicago Congressman Rahm Emanuel -- who is recruiting democratic candidates to run for House seats-- believes his party has a better chance with a decorated war veteran. Major Duckworth, a 37-year-old Hoffman Estates helicopter pilot, lost both legs in an insurgent attack in Iraq a year ago.

"I met Tammy Duckworth. I like Tammy Duckworth. She is a hero and has sacrificed for her country," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, (D) Chicago

Friends and family members are circulating nominating petitions for Duckworth, but federal guidelines prohibit political activities by government employees. Therefore, she is not talking about her campaign until she's released from the army later this week and announces her candidacy on Sunday. Even so, Cegelis says that she's in the race to stay despite the party's courtship of Duckworth.

more: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3722455

There's been some talk about this in the Illinois forum and some posters aren't very happy about this development.

I don't like in the 6th, but neither does Tammy Duckworth.

You actually get a choice!

This Duckworth person was probably some drunken supply puke who accidently pulled the pin on her handgrenade while coming out of a bar where she was secretly meeting with al-qaeda members -- just ask "The shill voice of treason" Ann Coulter, Lush "Can you fill a prescription for 10,000 oxy cotton pills" Rimbaugh and Sean Insanity. They'll tell you the same thing.
On a serious note...I wish her well. I hope she gets the nomination and wins.

May the best candidate win!

and there is a lot of controversey in the IL forum because among other things Ms. Duckworth does not live in the IL-6th.

I think, however, that she would be the most pragmatic candidate.

In 1984, we had a Repub congressman in our downstate Illinois district who was considered vulnerable because of a scandal. We had three Dems vie in our primary:

1) A liberal university professor from the most populous county, with strong local party support;

2) A young progressive attorney who was originally also from the most populous county, and still had family there, but who had not himself lived in the district for many years. He did, however, have the backing of a couple of grassroots groups; and

3) A moderate attorney from the rural part of the district who had run unsuccessfully once before.

It got really hot and bitter. Eventually the two from the population center split that vote, and the previous candidate from the rural area edged them both out, going on to win in November. Unfortunately, it left scars in our local party that took the better part of a decade to heal. While I normally consider vigorous primaries to be a sign of a vibrant, healthy party, in hindsight, it would have been much better for our local party to not have had that particular civil war.

If they can keep to the high road in the 6th, they may avoid the bloodletting we experienced, but it will take a conscious effort from both candidates.