advertisement

Krishnamoorthi not backing down in 8th

In an intimate setting at a steakhouse on the Chicago River, 70 guests at a lunchtime fundraiser for 8th District Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth had an opportunity to rub elbows with Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod.

They heard how Duckworth, a double-amputee Iraq War veteran, brings the presence of an American hero to the table along with the backing of those in President Barack Obama's inner circle.

Duckworth is no stranger to fundraising — or to residents of the new 8th Congressional District, a large swath of whom voted her way in 2006, when she lost by fewer than 2,000 votes to Republican Peter Roskam of Wheaton. That bitter, costly race, where the candidates spent a record $9 million, was called the most-watched congressional race in the country that year.

Yet this time around, Duckworth came late to the party — and despite pressure from outside and within inner circles, her primary opponent Raja Krishnamoorthi of Hoffman Estates is digging in his heels.

“It's a mistake for Washington party elders to impose their favorites on my community,” said Krishnamoorthi, who has drawn strong backing from a number of local Democrats.

After Thursday's fundraiser, Axelrod expressed regret over the fact that “resources are going to be squandered unnecessarily” in the primary.

“I regret that there's a primary. I like Raja a lot. He's a friend of mine. But I think she is the right candidate for this district,” he said.

When Duckworth stepped down from her Obama administration position in June and formally announced her 8th District candidacy weeks later, Krishnamoorthi, Illinois' former deputy treasurer who narrowly lost a primary bid for comptroller in 2010, already had more than two months of active campaigning and fundraising under his belt.

By June, Krishnamoorthi had announced endorsements from local Democrats, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, DuPage County's and Kane County's Democratic chairs, three state central committeemen and a majority of Cook County's Democratic committeemen. He raised more than $400,000 in the first quarter just as Duckworth was entering the race.

But now, big-name Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin and Axelrod, are publicly backing Duckworth, as Krishnamoorthi works to build continued support on more of the local, grass-roots level.

Krishnamoorthi says he is not backing down, despite public or private pressure to do so. And he's selling the fact that he has strong ties to members of the local Indian and Pakistani communities, who after decades of supporting and fundraising for fellow Democrats “are ready to have a seat at the table.” “I think that the fact that we have tremendous local community support signifies that, while certain other folks may believe differently, the people in my community are ultimately going to decide this race,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Axelrod said Krishnamoorthi's move was a mistake, but one that's his to make.

“I've told him. I don't think it's the right decision for him. I have not put pressure on him to step aside. I'm not going to do that. Everyone has to make their own decisions,” Axelrod said.

David Axelrod
Tammy Duckworth