Dairy magnate Jim Oberweis (R), who faces millionaire scientist Bill Foster (D) in a March 8 special election to replace retired Speaker Dennis Hastert (R), held a fundraiser Wednesday night at the Capitol Hill Club.

The event, hosted by National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.), also was expected to be attended by GOP Land of Lincoln Reps. Peter Roskam, Mark Kirk, Jerry Weller, Judy Biggert, Timothy Johnson, Don Manzullo, Ray LaHood and John Shimkus.

A recent poll conducted for Foster’s campaign showed the two candidates to be neck-and-neck.

In the poll of 525 likely voters, conducted by Global Strategy Group, 45 percent said they favored Oberweis, while 43 percent picked Foster. The survey suggested that 41 percent of voters have an unfavorable opinion of Oberweis.

Still, even after descriptions of the candidates were provided, Foster’s support reached just 49 percent. The survey, conducted Feb. 6-10, had a 4.3-point margin of error.

Kirk Has 7-Point Lead in New Democratic Poll Rep. Mark Kirk (R) held a slim lead over Democrat Dan Seals in a survey out this week from the business consultant’s campaign.

In the ballot test, 46 percent of likely general election voters picked Kirk, 39 percent chose Seals and 15 percent were undecided. Of those surveyed “who know both candidates,” 49 percent chose Seals and 39 percent picked Kirk. The two faced each other in 2006, when Kirk defeated Seals by 13,500 votes.

The survey of 400 likely voters, which was conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group on Feb. 7 and 8, had a 5-point margin of error.
— Matthew Murray