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 Harper's fundraising makes Dems take notice

13th District race targeted by party

By Paige Winfield pwinfield@scn1.com

National Democratic Party leaders are watching Naperville for the first time in recent history.

They have placed the 13th Congressional District race on the party's list of targeted races, making it one of five congressional races in Illinois to receive special attention.

Scott Harper, right, a Democratic candidate for the 13th Congressional District, meets Saturday with his field director, Rich Capparell, left, and volunteer Aileen Eilert at Kona's Expresso in Lisle.
(Robyn Sheldon/Special to The Sun)

Scott Harper, Democratic candidate for the 13th Congressional District, checks addresses of registered voters as he canvasses a neighborhood Saturday afternoon in Lisle.
Robyn Sheldon / Special to The Sun

Adding up the money

Democrat Scott Harper has raised more money in his race against 13th District Rep. Judy Biggert than any other Democratic candidate in the last 10 years. Biggert's 2006 opponent, Joe Shannon, raised $55,719 in total.

Judy Biggert:

$685,060 raised so far

$511,741 on hand

Scott Harper:

$247,410 raised so far

$103,463 on hand

Source: Federal Election Commission

Democratic candidate Scott Harper said he found out about the upgrade last weekend. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, committee chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, had visited Harper's Naperville campaign office a week earlier.

For Harper, making the list means he will receive organizational and research help from party leadership. And it will be easier to recruit volunteers and donors who see national party support, he said.

"It definitely was a goal," Harper said. "Potential donors see this is a race the party leadership is taking seriously. We're accountable to the leadership of the party to keep up the work ... this is overall party recognition."

Biggert legacy

During the 10 years she has represented the 13th District, Republican Judy Biggert, 70, has won every race by a comfortable margin. But in her last victory in 2006 against Democrat Joe Shannon, she received less than 60 percent of the vote for the first time.

Raising only $55,719 for his race, Shannon was vastly outspent by Biggert. While Harper also is significantly trailing the congresswoman, he already has five times more money six months before the election than Shannon acquired during his entire campaign.

Harper brought in $134,115 this quarter, bringing his total amount raised so far to $247,411, according to the Federal Election Commission. He has $103,464 on hand.

Biggert has raised $685,060 in total and has $511,741 on hand, according to the FEC.

Harper says he is treating the campaign as a full-time job, making phone calls for 35 to 40 hours a week and canvassing the district on nights and weekends.

The 46-year-old Oxford student put his doctoral thesis on the back burner after deciding to run for the seat last July. A graduate of Naperville Central High School, Harper attended Wheaton College and obtained an MBA from the University of Chicago. He settled in Lockport last fall and opened his campaign office in November.

"My full-time job is raising money," Harper said. "Of course, it's difficult to beat incumbents, but I feel like if there's a vigorous candidate who signals by meeting people that he wants to be a real representative of the district, that will make a difference."

Just under the radar

Combined with narrowing Republican margins in the 13th District and other congressional races nearby, Harper's energy has drawn the attention of the national party.

A district like the 13th that makes it onto the DCCC's list of targeted races receives secondary attention from the party that could be compared to an "orange alert" level. The list represents a second tier of races that will be watched, but not given No. 1 priority.

First priority races are given the "Red to Blue" designation - meaning that they are considered top Democratic campaigns and are given financial and structural support. According to the DCCC Web site, 22 congressional races across the county have been given top priority - including Illinois' 10th District held by Republican Mark Kirk and an open seat in the 11th District.

Making the list of targeted Democratic races does not automatically guarantee that Harper will receive DCCC funds for his campaign, but funding could always come later in the year, he said.

"There's no firm commitment at this point, but we're hopeful down the road," Harper said.

Ryan Rudominer, Midwest regional press secretary for the committee, said the DCCC is watching the 13th District, although he declined to comment on whether the party would contribute financially to Harper's campaign.

"Congresswoman Biggert has largely ignored the economic needs of middle-class families, she rubber stamps President Bush's failed agenda, and we're keeping an eye on this race," Rudominer said.

GOP not worried

Two years ago, the 6th District race just north of the 13th District made national headlines as Republican Peter Roskam narrowly defeated Democrat Tammy Duckworth. And just last month, Democrat Bill Foster took over the 14th District seat from retiring Republican Denny Hastert.

Such strong Democratic showings in two districts considered Republican strongholds gives party leaders in Naperville hope that 13th District voters will follow suit. Tom Wronski, chairman of the Naperville Township Democratic Organization, said watching the 14th District race gave him more confidence in Harper's ability to win.

"It's a tough race, but if Foster could do it, there's no reason why this fellow Harper couldn't," Wronski said. "He's generating a lot of excitement."

But Mike Bowler, vice chairman of the Naperville Township Republican Organization, says he is not worried that Biggert will lose the district, although Democrats have generated an unprecedented level of excitement in Naperville this year.

"They're hitting everything that they can," Bowler said. "I think it's still a very safe seat for Judy. They're ramped up, but we're also ramped up."

The 13th District extends from Interstate 88 down to the northern border of Joliet, with the Kane County line as a western border and the Cook County line as an eastern border - though it includes a portion of southwestern Cook County.

Along with all of Naperville, the district includes Lisle, Woodridge, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Lockport, Lemont, Darien, Westmont and Hinsdale, and portions of Oak Brook, Aurora, Downers Grove, Orland Park and Tinley Park.