Don Manzullo has been around a long time representing Northwest Illinois. Unfortunately his recent challengers have with not been legitimate candidates or have been severely under funded. Manzullo ran on a term limits pledge that he broke long ago. Recently Rockford Register Star political editor Chuck Sweeny interviewed one of the most promising potential candidates that Democrats have run in years.
Manzullo rival fears the demise of manufacturing
U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo was elected in 1992 and has never faced a serious challenge to re-election. Until now: The 2008 campaign is shaping up to be a barn-burner.
This time, Democrats say they have a candidate who can beat the popular Egan Republican. He’s Robert G. “Bob” Abboud, a McHenry County Democrat.
Unlike Manzullo, Abboud isn’t a lawyer. He’s a nuclear scientist and engineer who holds five patents. He’s president of RGA Labs Inc., an engineering, research and development firm. In his spare time, Abboud, 50, is village president of Barrington Hills, an enclave of business titans.
Abboud also has plenty of money. And he said he understands that defeating Manzullo will mean having to raise $2 million. So, why does a successful businessman in the prime of life want to run for Congress?
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