Pragmatic progressive decisions: run to replace conservative Democrat or. . .

[wndycty]

. . .run to win in a formerly Republican district drawn to benefit Democrats.

In order to protect incumbent Dan Lipinski in the 3rd Congressional District, Illinois Democrats drew a new congressional map that moved his potential primary opponent, John Atkinson, to the new 11th Congressional District that is currently held by Republican Adam Kinzinger. The district has been withdrawn to benefit Democrats and analysts predict it will be a Democratic pick-up. Kinzinger will now reside in the Jesse Jackson's 2nd Congressional District which is so top heavy with Dems/minorities he'd have to move to a new district to have a chance. Furthermore the new 11th is so waited for Dems that it would be difficult for Kinzinger to run there.

Complicating things is the fact the the Democrats redrew the 14th District so that former Congressman Bill Foster can regain his seat, however Foster is leaning towards running in the new 11th.

So what would you do if you were Atkinson?:

On the one the one hand you might defeat a conservative incumbent Democrat (Dan Lipinski) and then you might win the general election and if you do you do not add to the the number of Democratic seats in the house or on the other hand you can run in a district that was drawn specifically for you, which would be a net gain for the Democrats (provided we hold serve on the other seats).

I think the wild card here is Foster. If Foster can be convinced to run in the 14th, I think it makes sense for Atkinson to run in the 11th and be more concerned with the Democrats gaining two seats (14 & 11) as opposed to just running to knock out a conservative Democrat.

Dems jockey over who will run in proposed congressional districts
BY ABDON PALLASCH Political Reporter [e-mail] May 29, 2011 12:20AM

The fallout from Illinois Democrats’ majory redrawing of the state’s congressional map continued Saturday as former Rep. Bill Foster opened a campaign fund-raising account in preparation to run in a southwest suburban district that was actually drawn to favor a different Democrat.

Foster’s filing with the Federal Election Commission indicates that he plans to run in what will be the new 11th District, an oddly-shaped district resembling a genie coming out of a lamp. The district would include Joliet and Aurora, part of Foster’s old district.

But state legislative leaders want Foster, a physicist and businessman, to run in an expansive new 14th district that includes his home in Batavia and runs from far north suburban Antioch and Harvard to southwest suburban Minooka.

Democrats, who control both houses of the state Legislature, could approve the new congressional map Sunday.

The new map of the 11th district includes Burr Ridge, where insurance broker John Atkinson lives. Atkinson, though, has already raised $500,000 to launch a primary challenge in the 3rd district against Rep. Dan Lipinski, a conservative Democrat from the Southwest Side.

“I have serious policy differences with Dan Lipinski — I would prefer someone in that seat who wanted to work with the president,” Atkinson said Saturday.

But state Democratic leaders want Atkinson to win a new seat for Democrats in the 11th rather than challenge Lipinski, an ally of powerful state House Speaker Michael Madigan, who lives in the 3rd district.

Atkinson said Saturday he was still evaluating what to do.
-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/5656436-417/dems-jockey-over-who-will-run-in-proposed-congressional-districts.html

[msongs]

1. answer = both. replace closet republicans AND elect new progressives nt

[socialist_n_TN]

2. Yeah, I don't see what would be wrong with

the one most prepared to run going into the new district AND putting up a primary challenge to the Blue Dog incumbent.

[wndycty]

3. The Blue Dog incumbent is in a socially conservative district. . .a ton of Catholic. . .

. . .pro-life, Reagan Democrats (the far southwest side of Chicago) you run a more progressive Democrat and you run the risk of the seat turning Republican.

[bluestate10]

5. But, but what about purity of principles? You are right, but some can't see the

logic of not fucking up what can turn out to be three democratic seats.

[socialist_n_TN]

6. Notice I said primary............

And the answer in a general would be similiar to the political landscape in Tennessee. What I'm arguing for here is a left economic populist platform without any specific calls on social issues. Just say something along the lines of whatever the law is is what should be followed. And I would bring it back to economics by saying that these social issues are a way to divide the rest of us, so that it makes it easier for the VERY wealthy to steal more of our safety net.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAMMER THE ECONOMIC ISSUES. Every argument that wanders into the social issues needs to be brought QUICKLY back into the economic realm. Hammer Republican positions on Medicare, Social Security, and unions. You KNOW that NO Republican nominated will have a correct position on these issues.

In addition with religious voters of any stripe, taking care of the poor economically would be the tack to take. Catholic and Protestant leaders BOTH have called the Republican budget immoral.

[wndycty]

7. If you know anything about the 3rd CD in Illinois current and in the proposed map. . .

Lipinski is the only person with a D after his or her name who could hold that seat. Trust me. Beat him a primary and there is a better than 50% chance that seat goes red, most likely tea party red. . .

[bluestate10]

4. Pickup the two seats. Bring along a fresh, new democrat to run against the conservative democrat. nt

[LiberalAndProud]

8. I hope he challenges Lipinski.

The maneuvering of the Democratic leaders smacks of protectionism. Let the voters decide.

[wndycty]

9. You mean the maneuvering to increase the number of Dems in the Illinois Congressional delegation?

Are you more concerned with punishing a conservative Democrat than you are with picking up seats?

Also, I think there needs to be acknowledgment that not all Democratic Congressional seats are created equally and some will always be right of center. The 3rd CD of Illinois is one of those.

[LiberalAndProud]

10. "The lines were drawn to favor a different Democrat."

Where is the perceived Dem seat loss?

[Pubs_R_Racist]

11. Run and Vote for REAL DEMS

Conservadems are Pubs and only water down real change when they do vote for Liberal and Progressive policies. The tent needs to be smaller, if you want to represent corporations, man up and be a Pub.