Hastert gets congressional campaign in full swing Friday

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster will start with a major money advantage in the race to retain his 14th Congressional District. Although the race for votes will not begin until next year, the sprint for cash has started. Foster's most recognizable Republican competition so far, Ethan Hastert, is now rolling out the big guns for his campaign kickoff.

Foster, of Batavia, jumps into the campaign with more than $765,000, roughly half of which was raised in the most recent second quarter. The $384,000 raised from April 1 to June 30 puts Foster among the top earners of Democrats expected to have a hotly-contested race in 2010.

"We raised the majority of our funds for the second quarter after Ethan Hastert announced his candidacy and entered the Republican primary," said Chris Carr, Foster's campaign finance director. "It is clear that our supporters are excited to keep a businessman and scientist who earned his seat in Congress instead of someone who believes his last name qualifies him to serve."

Hastert has brought more than just his last name to the race. The Elburn resident has also brought several veterans from his father, longtime Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's team, with him. Burnham Strategies is overseeing the campaign. The company was founded by former Hastert staffers, including Brad Hahn (who most recently performed consulting work for the Kane County Board), and David From, who ran Jim Oberweis' campaign in an unsuccessful run at Foster last November. Also on board is Lisa Wagner, a fundraiser for the senior Hastert. She's also worked with Wheaton College and Congresswoman Judy Biggert.

That firepower has netted Ethan Hastert about $87,000 in campaign contributions. Top contributors include the law firm (Mayer Brown) Hastert works for, Jim Oberweis, and the Goeken Group, which lists Dennis Hastert as a consultant. Ethan Hastert announced his candidacy June 8, giving him just a short time to raise money. That effort shifts into high gear at 5:30 p.m. Friday at a campaign kickoff at Edgebrook Country Club in Sandwich. The $25 per-ticket event will feature Congressman Aaron Schock, the youngest member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Fans of celebrity gossip may best know Schock for the ongoing coverage TMZ gives the freshman congressman, including videos in which he's asked if he has better abs than President Obama.

Hastert chuckled at the idea of an abs pose-down at the event, but invited leadership comparisons to Schock, who represents the 18th District in west-central Illinois.

"He's a great leader for his district," Hastert said. "He's what we've been talking about in this campaign, the next generation of leadership."

Hastert said he's pleased with raising a little less than $87,000 in about two weeks. The next step is getting out and talking to voters and local leaders, he said.