Neumann, M. (2006 May 11). Labor group backs Melissa Bean despite liberal's criticism. Retrieved May 11, 2006 from: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/pa/05-11-06-917910.html

Even though Bean supported the Central American Free Trade Agreement, (CAFTA), she recently garnered support from a regional labor group. Lee Schillinger, the President of the Northeastern Federation of Labor, endorsed Bean citing the fact that Bean had a 73% voting record that supported labor, with an anticipated vote of zero percent from her Republican challenger David McSweeney. Schillinger is not without critics; David Sirota, a well known liberal pundit often hard on The Al Franken Show, believes that supporting Bean rewards a legislator that "sold out" to corporate America. Sirota cited Bean's first term where she voted against labor within months of being elected to her freshman term.

Support from labor, even if it is not unanimous, will be critical to Bean as she was strongly criticized by many of the major labor groups after her support of CAFTA . In a traditionally conservative 8th Congressional District Bean needs all the support she can get from labor. The endorsement from the Northeastern Federation of Labor coupled with the recent changing of the political tide due to anti-Bush and anti-war sentiment gives a boost to Bean and her bid for re-election. I feel that this race will be "one to watch" due to the strong conservative base in this district with a Democratic incumbent Congresswoman running against a Republican who is a former investment banker.

Zahorik, R. (2006 April 17). Bean war chest gains $500,000. Retrieved April 27, 2006 from: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/send_story/printstory.asp?HTMLpath=/newssun/top/5_1_WA17_BEANFUNDRAISING_S1.htmBean

8th congressional District incumbent Melissa Bean recently reported that her campaign has raised over $500,000 in the first three months of 2006. Bean now claims to have a war chest amounting to 1.75 million. Bean will need the money as her challenger, wealthy former investment banker, David McSweeney supported his primary bid with nearly 2 million of his own dollars. Bean even received a $1,000 donation from Barbara Streisand., a move blasted by the GOP. The GOP characterized Bean's recent donations as "bizarre" and received from an effort to cater to the "Hollywood elite."

The 8th Congressional District race seems to be one of the most closely watched House races, drawing national support for both Bean and McSweeney from their respective parties. Financially Bean is a great position with the real campaign and add blitz just around the corner. McSweeney has some external support and was recently identified as a potential recipient of funds from the GOP, via the Retain Our Majority Program (ROMP). This race has become a concern of both national party organizations and based on the amount of attention and support both candidates are receiving, this race is shaping up to be intense.

Kiefer, M. (2006, April 13). Protestors picket Bean for immigration stance. Retrieved April 17, 2006 from: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/ba/04-13-06-889332.html

8th Congressional District incumbent Melissa Bean has expressed her support for the controversial House Resolution 4437, even after approximately 100 pro-immigration protestors surrounded her Schaumburg offices. If HR 4437 becomes law, penalties for illegal immigration would be increased to the point where undocumented aliens would be considered felons. Bean called the Bill "commonsense" and reiterated her support for this bill in a recent statement.

The group, Latinos Organized for Justice, promised to keep this issue "at the forefront" of Bean's campaign. Latinos in her district claim that Bean owes her support to the immigrant community, saying that Bean has (in the past) promised her support to the immigrant community.

Bean will have to make a stand on either side of this issue. An advantage to Bean may be the lack of registered voters in the pro-immigration groups. Bean may benefit from her stance as it does not conflict with her Republican opponents view of immigration reform, thus making it a moot point in the campaign, unless her challenger spins the issue looking for support from the pro-immigration camp.

Hearn, J. (2006, April 2). House Republicans target Bean but K Street backs Dem. Retrieved April 2, 2006 from:
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/032806/bean.html

In an unusual turn of events Republican lobbyists from the infamous K Street have voiced concern over supporting 8th Congressional District challenger David McSweeney. McSweeney will attend a fundraiser for the Republican Retain Our Majority Program, or ROMP, on April 3rd in Washington. Some K Street lobbyists are reluctant to donate to McSweeney's cause for two reasons. McSweeney, a former investment banker, is considered wealthy enough to self fund a large portion of his own run for congress. Lobbyists have also eluded to the fact that Democrat incumbant Melissa Bean has "won them over" with a pro-corprate attitude, as demonstrated by her recent support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

McSweeney has already spent 2 million of his own funds during the Republican primary, only two candidates funded at, or above, this level during the last election.

The support of PAC funds is good news for Bean and her campaign, as she is the number one target of Speaker Dennis Hastert (R), also from Illinois. The fact that Bean is being supported by tradionaly Republican favoring lobbyists does not sit well with the Republican party as demonstrated by a statement from a political strategist who suggests that the Republican Party could be watching to see who contributes to Bean.

Comments:

I believe that this situation demonstrates that, even though, Bean has alienated the labor movement, she has gained the support of the wealthy PAC funds. McSweeney will have to make up ground to catch Bean as she already has the advantage of being the incumbent. McSweeney must also work hard to overcome his image as a wealthy candidate who is relatively unknown, if he hopes to win.

Roberts, B. (2006, March 22). McSweeney wins primary, wants to debate Bean. Retrieved March 23, 2006 from: http://wbbm780.com/pages/17440.php?

Now that former investment banker David McSweeney has won, he wishes to debate his Democratic opponent in all 24 townships within the 8th Congressional District. McSweeney stated that he believes that job creation is the most important issue in this campaign and proposes the repeal of some tax and regulatory requirements to help businesses accomplish this task. McSweeney invested over 1.5 million of his own funds in the battle to become the Republican candidate in this race. McSweeney persevered in a race with six challengers, one a high profile female, Kathy Salvi.

Bean has been given a financial boost from the Democratic parties "Frontline Program" which helps the candidates who are identified as being within a group identified as the 10 most vulnerable incumbents. According to McSweeney, Bean won in 2004 due to voter dissatisfaction with Phil Crane, who served for decades in Congress.

The victory of McSweeney in the GOP primary may be good news to Bean as Kathy Salvi was the sole female Republican to remain in the contest for the nomination. McSweeney is well funded and based on the support that he mustered to win the GOP nomination in a District described as heavily Republican, it certainly will not be easy for Bean to win.

GOP battle for Dem's seat gets nasty By Dave Newbart/Chicago Sun-Times March 9, 2006
Summary:

The race for the 8th Congressional District is most interestinng on the Republican side of the fence. The six Republicans running for the primary are concentrating on discrediting each other, rather that their potential Democratic foe, Melissa Bean. There has even been comments by Phil Crane, who Bean defeated in the last election. Crane has weighed in, supporting Kathy Salvi, an attorney. Salvi's husband Al, a familiar political fiqure, sparred with former investment banker David McSweeney, later calling him an "Ass" and a "Nut." Former Senator Peter Fitzgerald and Mike Ditka have shown support for McSweney.

There also appears to be no shortage of money in this contest, McSweeney has reportedly invested 1.5 million of his own cash, while Salvi has contributed $735,000 to her cause. Bean has raised 2 Million for this campaign and may have an advantage in this area, with the Republicans "infighting" and the fact that she is unchallenged in the Democratic Primary.

The 8th District has been described as conservative, a title that Bean disputes. Bean pointed out that Barack Obama won the 8th District in the last U.S. Senate race. Bean also related that the voters that she has been in contact with would not be well represented by any of her potential challengers.

Bean may benefit from the large field of well funded Republicans, if voters become disinchanted with bickering within the GOP. The fact that Bean is able to conserve her "war chest" for the general election campaign may also help her.

Zahorik, R. (2006, February 19). GOP hopefuls agree on most issues. The News Sun.
Retrieved February 19, 2006 from:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/city/w138thforum.htm

The GOP candidates in the upcoming primary for the 8th Congressional District of Illinois hosted a forum at the College of Lake County. The audience, which consisted of approximately 50, was not allowed to pose questions to the candidates.

The presence of strong candidates in this race may spell trouble for the Democratic incumbent, Melissa Bean. The candidates largely agree on all of the current and/or major issues of this campaign. All believe in strong immigration enforcement, privitization of Social Security, and support the war in Iraq. Jim Mitchell was the only candidate that voiced opposition to the recent trade pacts and supported the abolishment of personal income tax.

Based on recent articles, the two "stand-outs" in this race are former investment banker, David McSweeney and attorney Kathy Salvi. McSweeney seems to have placed himself above the other candidates, judging from recent comments. McSweeney appears to be well financed, from his personal fortune. Kathy Salvi, the only female GOP candidate, would take away the issue of gender in a race with the incumbent freshman, Bean.