News Brief

Already facing an uphill fight in his congressional bid, former Clinton administration aide Jay Footlik lost out in the fight for the endorsement of the Highland Park News. The local newspaper serves an area of Chicago containing one of the highest concentrations of Jew in Illinois. Footlik, who has attracted money and endorsements from Jews across the country, is battling Dan Seals to see who gets to challenge U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), the GOP incumbent in the 10th District. In 2006, Seals came close to beating Kirk, who has the support of many pro-Israel activists across the country. In the current primary race, Footlik has attracted money and endorsements from Jews across the country, while Seals commands more support among local Democratic leaders. In its endorsement of Seals, the newspaper was critical of Footlik’s decision to poke fun of his own Jewish heritage in a recent mailing to district residents. The Footlik campaign’s “release of a flyer to Jewish residents poking fun at Footlik’s Jewish background raises questions about his judgment in the serious business of running for Congress against a strong incumbent in the fall” the editorial stated. “His lack of name recognition and regular party support also presents doubts about his ability to be a real challenge to Kirk in November.”