Foster wins Durbin's support for Congressional seat

Democratic congressional candidate Bill Foster secured a prominent endorsement Tuesday: that of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

Foster said he believes the backing of the senior senator from Illinois will be a "tremendous boost" to his campaign.

"Illinois families have no bigger champion than Sen. Durbin, and I'm extraordinarily grateful for his support," Foster said after making the announcement at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.

Durbin, who as majority whip is second in command at the Senate, called Foster "a voice for common sense solutions in Congress."

"I'm proud to lend him my support and I look forward to working with Bill Foster to bring an end to the war in Iraq, pass affordable health care for all Americans and end our dependence on foreign oil," Durbin said in a prepared statement.

He could not attend the news conference because he was in Washington.

Foster faces John Laesch, a Navy veteran and carpenter from Newark, St. Charles attorney Jotham Stein and Geneva resident Joe Serra in the Democratic primary.

All are vying to replace former U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, who resigned last week with less than a year left on his term. The candidates will compete in a special primary and regular primary election Feb. 5.

The four candidates seeking the Republican nomination are jockeying for Hastert's endorsement. The Plano Republican has said he expects to back a successor soon.