Big GOP guns helping congressional challenger(against Melissa Bean)

Republican challenger David McSweeney is getting fund-raising help from three of his party’s heaviest hitters as he tries to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean.

Vice President Dick Cheney, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani each will appear at campaign fundraisers for McSweeney next month.

The Barrington Hills investment banker is running against Bean, a freshman from Barrington, in one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country. “It really says that this is one of the top two races in the country right now for the Republicans,” McSweeney said Tuesday. “It’s a vote of confidence in my candidacy.”

. . .

McSweeney spent $2.8 million to win a contentious primary, including $1.9 million of his personal fortune. He hopes a slew of June fundraisers will help narrow the gap and net him $500,000 or more.

Giuliani, the still-popular former New York mayor, will appear at a June 7 event at Mike Ditka’s in Chicago. Hastert will raise money for McSweeney on June 25 at a private residence in Barrington Hills. Cheney is scheduled to do a late June fundraiser in Chicago. The vice president, who is unpopular in public opinion polls but a draw for the GOP, raised money for 6th District Republican Peter Roskam back in March.

http://www.dailyherald.com/politics/ele_story.asp?id=190095

Note that Melissa Bean has voted with the GOP on every issue in the House, including all tax cuts, CAFTA, bankruptcy bill, immigration bill, Medicare Drug, etc. Never has she voted with the Democratic majority.

y guy is my worst nightmare by far.

Here's a little video with clips of Mr. McSweeney

http://www.dccc.org/video/mcsweenyexposed.wmv

and of course the highlights:

McSweeney supports teaching intelligent design in public schools. He stated that local school districts should be allowed to teach intelligent design. <"Public Affairs," 12/21/05>

McSweeney supported legislation that would have harmed the environment in the Northwest Suburbs. He stated that he would have supported an Energy Bill that did not permanently ban oil drilling in Lake Michigan, the district's primary source of fresh drinking water. <"Public Affairs">

McSweeney opposes embryonic stem cell research. He stated his clear opposition to this potentially life-saving technology. <"Public Affairs," and Illinois Right to Life Forum>

McSweeney said he supports a ban on abortions. McSweeney said he was "very supportive" of the South Dakota legislation banning abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest: "I hope it is the first case that will go all the way to the Supreme Court and hopefully overturn Roe v. Wade."

FWIW

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?vote_id=3525&can_id=MIL20905

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=MIL20905


100% rating from NOW and NARAL. I doubt the same could be said about the Republican