Bernard Schoenburg is reporting his campaign staff is taking shape,
DAVE KELM of Springfield has been tapped to be campaign manager for the U.S. Senate bid of state Sen. STEVE RAUSCHENBERGER, R-Elgin.
"He’s the one right now with the most elected experience, and the most, I think, knowledge of the issues," Kelm, 34, said of Rauschenberger’s entrance into the field of Republicans interested in the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. PETER FITZGERALD, R-Ill.
Rauschenberger just won a four-year term to the Senate, where he’s known as an appropriations whiz. He’s also proven willing to speak plainly about his differences with folks, including Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH.
Kelm lost a nonpartisan race for Springfield Ward 6 alderman last spring to Ald. MARK MAHONEY and was laid off from his job at what was the Department of Nuclear Safety. He said Rauschenberger planned to file paperwork to establish an exploratory committee this week for a possible 2004 federal run.
I think Rauschenberger and Borling are the strongest general election candidates for the Republicans. As a note on Borling, he just announced he is pro-choice.
Given the nature of the Republican Party I’d say that is generally a liability in the primary, but with a fractured field it might play well to be the only pro-choice candidate.