Five-term incumbent Biggert faces two opponents in 13th

In Washington, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert faces such gripping issues as a struggling economy, home foreclosures, soaring gas prices, the war and the recent financial industry bailout.

But, back in her 13th Congressional District, the Hinsdale Republican has another fight on her hands - a three-way battle for re-election that includes a well-heeled Democratic opponent.

Biggert, a five-term incumbent, is challenged by Lockport Democrat Scott Harper and the Green Party's Steve Alesch of Warrenville.

Harper is a first-time political candidate, but he's proven anything but a novice at campaigning. In fact, Harper said he has more than 2,500 volunteers working for him. He isn't trailing too far behind Biggert in raising money.

Harper has at least $525,000, which includes the $150,000 he contributed to his own campaign. He's within sight of Biggert's $925,000 campaign chest.

"It is true we sort of came out of nowhere, and now we're getting national attention," the 47-year-old global IT marketing consultant said during a recent meeting with the Daily Herald editorial board. "I really think it comes down to not only our hard work, but also that our message of a change in Washington is resonating with voters."

Biggert's opponents have called her a rubber stamp for the Bush administration. In response, she cites a recent National Journal analysis that found she voted with the administration 67 percent of the time, compared to GOP presidential hopeful John McCain's 90 percent.

"And yet he's the one who is called a maverick," joked the 71-year-old Biggert, a lawyer, during her recent meeting with the Daily Herald editorial board.

"I take every race seriously," she continued about her opposition. "It's all negative, negative, negative and I don't think people really want to see that."

Harper criticized Biggert, most recently for her initial vote against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout and for her decision not to attend the GOP National Convention.

Unlike his opponents, Alesch remains opposed to the bailout. The 53-year-old software engineer called it a temporary, makeshift fix to a fundamentally broken economy.

"Bush's answer to every major crisis for the past seven years has been to borrow more money and drive up the national debt," he said. "This time, the problems go much deeper than any gimmick can fix. We need to rebuild the economy on real assets, not faulty loans."

The 13th Congressional District encompasses parts of Cook, Will and DuPage counties, including Lisle and Naperville.

Though long a Republican stronghold, Democrats are slowly getting more of a foothold in the district. For example, Biggert won in 2002 with 70 percent of the vote, compared to less than 60 percent in 2006. The Democrats are hopeful they'll gain even more ground with Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid.

But it isn't Biggert's first tough challenge. After six years as a state lawmaker, Biggert defeated Peter Roskam in the Republican primary in 1998 with 61 percent of the vote to take over for retiring U.S. Rep. Harris Fawell.