Singer Pat Boone backs suburban Republican
Political Editor
mriopell@dailyherald.com
Legendary singer Pat Boone, famous for hit songs in the 1950s and 1960s, praised Republican Larry Kaifesh of Carpentersville for Congress Tuesday on behalf of a national organization for seniors.
"I'm still singing at concerts, but today I'm singing the praises of Larry Kaifesh," Boone said in a statement from the group, the 60 Plus Association. "Seniors can depend on Larry Kaifesh."
Kaifesh is running for Congress against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates in the 8th Congressional District.
The organization gave Kaifesh an award that it said is given to politicians with voting records that benefit seniors. Kaifesh, a U.S. Marine veteran, is making his first run for office.
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park are other local Republicans who have been similarly recognized.
Boone has been an outspoken supporter of conservatives both as a spokesman for the 60 Plus Association and on his own. The group has run TV ads featuring Boone, for example, about Medicare and the singer has made talk show appearances to criticize Democrats.
Boone released dozens of albums starting in 1956, and his appearance in a suburban race for Congress isn't the first time a musically inclined celebrity has gotten involved.
Two years ago, Duckworth won the support of Eagles singer and guitarist Joe Walsh, who happened to share a name with Duckworth's Republican opponent.