Republican Senate candidates have little experience but firm opinions
SPRINGFIELD -- Among the few things the three Republican U.S. Senate hopefuls have in common would be that none of them has ever been elected before.
But on most other issues, Chicago Internet author Andy Martin, Chicago trucker Mike Psak and Willowbrook doctor Steve Sauerberg have clear differences.
Republican voters will select one of them Tuesday to be the GOP nominee against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, of Springfield. Durbin is unopposed in the primary.
On immigration
None of the Republican candidates favor granting driving privileges to illegal immigrants, with Psak and Sauerberg supporting stiff federal penalties against states that do.
Martin argues it's unrealistic to think 12 million illegal immigrants can all be deported. Psak said, "Of course they can, provided it's the will of the people."
Sauerberg and Psak support local police enforcing federal immigration laws. Martin does not.
On Iraq
All three oppose setting a specific timetable for exiting Iraq, but disagreed on whether the war ever should have started or has been successful.
Sauerberg and Martin said they would have voted against sending troops to Iraq. Psak said he would have voted for the war.
And Sauerberg and Psak said the military effort has been a success. Martin disagreed.
The economy
The GOP hopefuls all said the country is either in or headed toward a recession, though they have differing plans to fix it.
Psak supports downsizing government. His first target would be the Corporation for Federal Broadcasting, which funds public radio and TV stations.
Sauerberg envisions tax cuts for people and businesses and wants to eliminate "earmark" project spending.
Martin says there is no quick fix but would support across-the-board cuts, except for the military and social programs.
Political reality
Whoever wins faces a mighty challenge against Durbin, the Senate's second-highest-ranking Democrat.
He's got a lot more campaign money. And while none of the Republicans have won a public election, Durbin has weathered repeated campaigns and easily won re-election six years ago.
"I think they are definitely the underdog," former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar said of the GOP candidates. Other Republicans have said the national party and its checkbook might skip the race.
The candidates, however, say an upset is brewing.
Andy Martin
Martin said he's running to give Durbin a good fight. "I will go after him," he said.
He sought the GOP nomination for governor two years ago, getting 6,095 votes statewide, the fewest of the five Republican candidates.
"If I win the primary next Tuesday, on Wednesday morning people are going to be stunned," he said.
A copious online writer, he produces political discourse on topics such as whether state Republican officials are in cahoots with Democrats.
A Durbin spokesman declined to comment on any of the GOP hopefuls.
Mike Psak
Psak said he's not worried about money and believes he'll be able to tap into fellow truckers to be competitive against Durbin.
"There are 3 million truck drivers out there. If 10 percent of them send me 20 bucks, that's $6 million. I'll be able to raise a lot of money. And that's just truck drivers," he said. "I don't worry about money."
It's the first time he's run for office, but he said the Senate is where he needs to be. "For what I want to accomplish, I need to be in Washington," said Psak. "We need to make government smaller so that we can bring jobs back to America."
Steve Sauerberg
Sauerberg said he was motivated to make his first bid for public office by a growing belief that Durbin no longer represents the state. "I just couldn't sit on the sidelines and watch him get re-elected without stepping in myself if need be," he said.
Sauerberg has been endorsed by the state Republican Party and believes his campaign has been the strongest and most far-reaching of the three.
He said his medical experience would be valuable as the country grapples with health care. "I understand the health-care system probably better than anyone I can imagine," Sauerberg said.
Senate candidates
Three Republican candidates seek the Republican nomination for a 6-year term in the U.S. Senate. The nominee will face incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin of Springfield, who is unopposed in the primary.
Andy Martin
Age: 62
Residence: Chicago
Occupation: Internet author
Previous public office: None
Why are you running? "Because I am the most qualified Republican to challenge incumbent Dick Durbin. I would work to restore Illinois' role as an important state in Washington; in recent years Illinois has declined in national influence. I would work to avoid hyper-partisanship."
Mike Psak
Age: 47
Residence: Chicago
Occupation: Truck driver
Previous public office: None
Why are you running?: "The motivating factor in my candidacy has been unfairness in our society due to legislation that has been good for a handful of people, at the expense of the masses. I seek to change some of that and inspire others to follow the same path."
Steve Sauerberg
Age: 54
Residence: Willowbrook
Occupation: Doctor
Previous public office: None
Why are you running?: "On 9/11, like so many other Americans, I was working in my office, treating patients, when I saw two planes fly into the World Trade Center. Like most of us, I realized our lives had forever changed. In a post 9/11 world I became acutely aware of how important our elected leaders in Washington were to the safety and security of our families."
Source: Daily Herald questionnaires