Durbin endorses Duckworth for Congress

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has endorsed Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth in her run for Congress in the newly drawn 8th District in the Northwest suburbs.

The Illinois Democrat made the announcement Monday at an appearance with Duckworth in Elk Grove Village.

Duckworth is the former assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs. She lost both legs in a rocket-propelled grenade attack while in Iraq.

She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2006 in the 6th District. Parts of that old district are included in the new 8th District.

Another Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi, is running in the district. He says he’s the best candidate for creating jobs and helping the middle class.

The Illinois Republican Party responded in a statement tying Duckworth to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and President Barack Obama.