Republican Surge

Ha, ha. Illinois Republicans are making a comeback because they successfully got their guy re-elected as mayor of Carbondale.

The fact that Republican incumbent BRAD COLE was able to defeat Democratic challenger SHEILA SIMON in the April race for mayor in Carbondale, showed that GOP ideas and grass-roots activism can defeat "Democratic star power," McKenna said. Simon is daughter of late Sen. PAUL SIMON, D-Ill.

On to Effingham!