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Mar 18, 2008

Aurora Beacon News - McCain, Hastert weigh in on 14th District loss

It's been more than a week since Democrat Bill Foster defeated Republican Jim Oberweis to become the next congressman from the 14th District. But heavy-hitting Republicans are still weighing in on why their party lost.

On Monday, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, appeared on National Public Radio's Morning Edition and mentioned the 14th Congressional District election. McCain flew to Aurora last month to campaign for Oberweis, appearing at a fundraiser that pulled in $257,000, according to campaign staffers.

During his radio interview, McCain discussed illegal immigration, and suggested that hard-line stances on that issue contributed to Oberweis' defeat. Oberweis has long been a proponent of strengthening laws to curb illegal immigration.

"We just had a loss of Denny Hastert's seat out in Illinois," McCain said. "The Republican candidate out there, I am told, had very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric also, so I would hope that many of our Republican candidates would understand the political practicalities of this issue."

Oberweis spokesman Bill Pascoe said that McCain is simply misinformed -- Oberweis has never spoken against immigrants, just against illegal immigration.

"What Jim has spoken out for forcefully is the enforcement of our laws," Pascoe said.

Retired Speaker Hastert, whose seat Foster won, said Monday he is still in Oberweis' corner for the November election. He blamed the intense primary election between Oberweis and State Sen. Chris Lauzen and the short turnaround time before the March 8 special election for the loss.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Hastert said Oberweis will have to decide whether it's worth putting more of his own money into challenging Foster. Hastert said Oberweis is "a good guy" who has "great practical experience, business experience."

"He has to really remake himself in the public's eye," Hastert said. "Until he changes his mind, I'm there."