Politico’s Illinois Playbook reports this morning that Republicans are nudging Illinois State Senator Jim Oberweis to drop his bid in Illinois’s 14th Congressional District and instead run in Florida’s 19th… which would be convenient because it’s where Oberweis actually lives.
Oberweis has no shortage of connections to the Sunshine State: he claims his expensive condo in Bonita Springs, Florida – on which he gets a $50,000 tax break – as his primary home, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Francis Rooney hosted “a high-dollar fundraiser” for him last week, and Rubio is headlining another fundraiser for him tomorrow.
From Politico:
Some Florida Republicans are nudging state Sen. Jim Oberweis to run for the congressional seat in the Sunshine state now held by Rep. Francis Rooney, who announced his retirement over the weekend.
Oberweis has a home in Florida, so while far-fetched, the idea isn’t totally impossible.
“Even Republicans know that Oberweis will have better luck running in Florida than running against Rep. Underwood,” said DCCC Spokesperson Courtney Rice. “All we can say is welcome to the Sunshine State, Jim. Beware the alligators.”
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