Illinois congressional candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi announced Wednesday he’s got the endorsement of David Axelrod, a Chicago political power-player who served as a senior adviser to President Barack Obama during much of his political career.  

The 8th District seat is rated Safe Democrat  by the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report /Roll Call, and ties to Obama there could not hurt. The president, who calls Chicagoland home, won the district easily in both 2008 and 2012.  

“Since we first met, his experience as an entrepreneur and small businessman has only deepened his insights into how to make our economy work for hard-working people,” said Axelrod, noting he first met Krishnamoorthi when he served as a policy director on Obama’s Senate campaign. “Now, as then, Raja is a bright, public spirited leader, thinking of innovative ways to attack stubborn problems.”  

In addition to Alelxord, Krishnamoorthi boasts endorsements from 10 members of Congress and dozens of local Democratic leaders and activists.  

The news came a day after Deb Bullwinkel, the president of Villa Park, Ill., announced her entrance into the Democratic field  that has formed to succeed Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who is leaving the seat to challenge Republican Sen. Mark S. Kirk.  

Krishnamoorthi, who ran for Duckworth’s seat once before, leads the fundraising race and has $596,000 in the bank. But Bullwinkel, who could draw support from national groups such as EMILY’s List that want to maintain and increase the number of women in elected office, has the potential to earn financial support from the outside.  

Bullwinkel and Krishnamoorthi are not alone in the race. In March, state Sen. Mike Noland announced his own candidacy.

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