Race To Replace Hastert A Proxy For Presidential Race?

Two leading presidential candidates are weighing in on a competitive special election to determine the successor to former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) – in what could be an early proxy battle for a potential Obama-McCain matchup in the general election.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is stopping by the exurban Chicago district on Wednesday at a fundraiser for the Republican nominee, dairy owner Jim Oberweis. Oberweis may need McCain as much for his appeal among independent voters as he does for his money: Oberweis has already spent nearly $2 million of his own funds on the campaign.

Meanwhile, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) recently cut footage for a television ad for the Democratic nominee, scientist Bill Foster. In the ads, which have not yet aired, Obama argues that Foster he is best-equipped candidate to deliver change in Washington.

Both candidates are already competing on the airwaves over the Iraq war – Oberweis’ latest ad accuses Foster of “wanting to cut off funding for the troops” in Iraq, while Foster’s ad accuses Oberweis of wanting to keep troops in Iraq for over a decade.

And both committees have kept a close eye on the seat; the NRCC just commissioned a $13,250 poll in the district.

The fast-growing district has been solidly Republican, but an influx of new voters who are not tied to the Republican Party has increased Democrats’ optimism that they can score an upset. The district gave President Bush 55 percent of the vote in the 2004 presidential election.

The special election is scheduled for March 8.