Bean coasts to third term in 8th District

U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean's campaign strategy of sticking to the high road and virtually ignoring her opponent paid off Tuesday as she appeared headed to a third term in Congress.

Bean, a Barrington Democrat, easily beat Republican challenger Steve Greenberg in the 8th District, unofficial vote totals show. With ballots in 518 of 522 precincts counted, Bean had 175,283 votes, or nearly 61 percent, to Greenberg's 113,707votes.

Those totals didn't include results from early voting, absentee voting or provisional ballots.

Although all the votes weren't in, Greenberg conceded the race late Tuesday night. He called Bean to congratulate her.

Greenberg called the campaign a great journey.

"It was a great run," he said. "It was such an honor to do this."

Bean was at the Grant Park rally for President-elect Barack Obama. In an e-mailed statement, she said she appreciates the strong show of support and confidence from her constituents.

"These are serious times, we have serious work ahead and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves," Bean wrote.

In the final weeks of the campaign, Greenberg, a business owner from Long Grove, repeatedly attacked Bean over the nation's economic woes. He tried to blame her for the mortgage crisis by highlighting the campaign donations she's received from companies in the financial industry and by criticizing finance legislation she supported.

The mud didn't stick, however.

Greenberg wasn't able to keep pace with Bean's support and campaign budget in a race that wound up being less costly than other suburban congressional contests, and not nearly as lively.

Tuesday night, Greenberg acknowledged his lack of fundraising was a factor in his loss. He also said it was a rough election for Republicans.

"We knew we had an uphill fight," Greenberg said.

The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.