The David McSweeney 8th District Congressional campaign held a luncheon Friday in Kildeer to celebrate their Primary victory, thank all their supporters, build bridges to other 8th CD Primary candidates, and launch the McSweeney General Election campaign. The jam-packed room at the Concorde Banquet Facility fairly overflowed with supporters, Primary Election opponents, GOP regulars, and contagious enthusiasm.
 
Guest speakers, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, and Congressman Tom Reynolds (R) NY, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), gave rousing speeches and demonstrated just how important the McSweeney 8th District campaign is regarded in Washington, DC. Ken Mehlman threw down the gauntlet and promised major support for McSweeney's campaign in one of only 40-odd battlegrould Congressional Districts nationwide.

Dave McSweeney gave the first of many, many stump speeches and issued a challenge to debate incumbent Melissa Bean in all 24 townships of the 8th District. Blago's ten-debate challenge to Ms Topinka pales by comparison. McSweeney's rhetorical question asking if Melissa Bean would now counter the Ken Mehlman visit with a visit to the 8th District by Howard Dean, Ken Mehlman's Democrat Party counterpart, drew huge laughter and applause. In a remarkable show of courage and honesty, McSweeney chastised the GOP Congressional leadership for their record of profligate spending and deficit growth, even as Mehlman and Reynolds stood beside him.

IRP Executive Director John Tsarpalis was also present as were many state and county GOP bigwigs. For some reason, I kept hearing bits of conversation in the crowd regarding Bob Kjellander and his future. The next few months should prove very interesting to say the least.

Ken Mehlman also visited the IL 6th CD, where where State Senator Peter Roskam and Democratic nominee Tammy Duckworth are running to fill retiring Congressman Henry Hyde's seat.