Jim Oberweis

He came in second for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in both 2002 and 2004. His second place finish in 2004 to Jack Ryan was not rewarded with a spot on the ballot when Ryan dropped out.

Instead, the GOP State Central Committee imported Alan Keyes recruited from my home state of Maryland. Keyes lost to Barack Obama.

In 2006, Oberweis ran for Governor, running second and losing to Judy Baar Topinka, who lost to Rod Blagojevich.

When Dennis Hastert decided to step down from Congress after he lost the Speakership when the Democrats took control under Nancy Pelosi, Oberweis won the primary election over Chris Lauzen and Ethan Hastert to fill the short-term vacancy and the full term. He lost to Bill Foster.

Now, having been elected State Central Committeeman by party officials, Oberweis is running for the State Senate.

This time he may win.

The massive television advertising for his campaigns and his dairy have given him a high name identification.

In the We Ask America poll last week, he was leading his two opponents about three to one.