On one hand, Schock has become the "wonder boy" of Illinois GOP politics, quickly rising to get elected to school board at 18, Board President at 21, State Representative at 23 (defeating a crooked 20 year incumbant in a big upset), and now seems poised to get elected to Congress at 26. And this rate he'll be a U.S. Senator by age 30. He would bring a certain celebrity status to the ticket and would almost certainly win in this heavily Republican district.
On the other hand, Ray LaThug hedged his bets and endorsed this guy for state Rep. and campaigned for him, and since Schlock won by only about 250 votes, he "owes" LaThug big time. He may be too close to the retiring incumbant to be trusted. On other hand, if Daren LaThug enters the race, we know who daddy will endorse, and it won't be Schock.
I still wish Jonathan Wright would run. Any man who can work his day job, drive from Lincoln to Chicago every day to campaign for the U.S. Senate, and raise 9 kids would work tirelessly in a Congressional race. Tazewell County State's Attorney Stu Umholtz still might run, and at least he already has name reconition in Illinois (unfortunately, it tends to be "hey that's the guy who Lisa Madigan slaughted last year in her re-election bid")
And while I'm not big on conspircy theories, it's possible LaThug is pushing Schock to run so he can split the non-LaHood conservative vote and ensure the insiders will elect his boy. I wouldn't put it past him, there's a reason why LaThug announced his "retirement" so early.
I'm surprised he hasn't lined up his chief of staff for the job, the last three Congressmen from this district basically "inherited" the job from their predecessor and had the Peoria/Tazewell GOP insiders seuw up the position for them in advance.
I'm alot more comfortable if we run someone from the OUTSIDE Peoria-Pekin metropolian area, and Wright fits the bill. It's high time the REST of the district had representation.
Sorry for forgetting to ping you to this one, Billy.