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GOP will not field challenger to Hare

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By Ed Tibbetts | Tuesday, April 08, 2008 |

Freshman U.S. Rep. Phil Hare will not get a challenge this year from the Republican Party. The GOP failed by the Monday deadline to nominate anyone to run against the Rock Island Democrat in the fall election.

That leaves Hare only one competitor: Troy Dennis, a Green Party candidate from the central Illinois community of Mount Zion.

While Republican Party chairs in the 17th Congressional District had considered a group of three to four potential challengers, but none stepped forward to take the job, said Marc Young, chairman of the Knox County GOP.

"For various reasons, they all decided not to," he said.

Hare was elected in 2006, succeeding his former longtime boss, Lane Evans.

Hare already had gotten off to a significant fundraising lead this campaign cycle, raising $537,000 as of mid-March, with $376,000 in cash on hand.

"The Republicans' inability to select a challenger speaks volumes about the job Congressman Hare has done representing his district over the last 15 months, and he looks forward to continuing his service," said Tim Schlittner, Hare's spokesman.

Republicans had set a meeting for the middle of last month to review potential challengers, whom they would not identify. The meeting was called off at the last minute.

Young said he is disappointed the vacancy was not filled. "Competition is good," he added.

Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.