Oberweis critical of Foster, bailout in new ad

SPRINGFIELD - Sugar Grove Republican Jim Oberweis is striking a new tone in his latest campaign ads, going on the offensive against Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Geneva with less than a week now remaining before Election Day.

Oberweis singles out Foster's vote for the federal financial bailout and recent contributions from the banking industry in the piece airing on cable channels.

"If you think making you pay for their mistakes is fair, vote for my opponent," Oberweis, who opposed the bailout, says in the ad.

It's tame in comparison to his much-maligned ads of the past, particularly one in which he takes a helicopter over Soldier Field and tells the ominous tale of 10,000 illegal immigrants - enough to fill the stadium each week - coming across the border daily to take jobs.

But it's a departure from his ads this campaign, which consisted of family members praising Oberweis' parenting acumen.

Foster's campaign was quick to criticize the new ad's tone as Oberweis turning his back on an earlier promise to stay positive in this race.

"This is the same old Jim Oberweis up to his old tricks," said Foster's campaign manager Mike Rendina in a statement sent to news outlets.

Oberweis spokesman David From said Foster's vote is fair game and the ad simply contrasts the candidates' views. "We didn't try to make it over the top," he said.

He noted that Foster's campaign routinely resorts to negative comments whenever the Oberweis campaign comes up.

Foster and Oberweis squared off earlier this year for the right to serve out the remainder of Republican U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert's term after Hastert resigned. Foster won the historically Republican seat and is now matched up with Oberweis again for the right to a full, two-year term in Congress.

The 14th Congressional District stretches from DuPage County almost to the Mississippi River. On its eastern edge, it takes in all or parts of Elgin, Carpentersville, Aurora and West Chicago.