An Endorphin Endorsement Rush

It is as sure as the tide goes in, the tide goes out: post a story here about Eighth District Congressman Joe Walsh, and watch this blog's web-metrics all shoot through the roof. On the other hand, post a story here about the 10th Congressional District and this blog's page counter actually rolls backward. (This is not a joke as your LakeCountyEye has had more than one reader demand a refund on their page clicks.) So as a public service and at great expense to your LakeCountyEye ... woo-hoo! it looks like there is a donnybrook brewing up in the 10th Congressional District.

There are about 10 Democrats maneuvering there for the opportunity to take on the Republican incumbent, Robert Dold, in the November election. Since no one knows who they are or even any of their names, your LakeCountyEye is at a disadvantage when it comes to handicapping this particular Primary. While they do not pass out tip sheets for elections -- like they do at the track -- luckily there is a rough electoral equivalent for a bewildered voter -- endorsements. And, according to the Patch, there are plenty of endorsements being tossed around in the 10th Democratic Primary:

John Tree also announced the endorsement of former Democratic National Committee Chairman David Wilhelm, Wheeling Township Democratic Chair Kathleen Sances and Palatine Township Democratic Chair Sue Walton.

Sheyman and Schneider have their share of endorsements as well.

Brad Schneider has the backing of Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the Democratic Congressional whip; former Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Barrington); state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest); and state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston).

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Chicago); Rep. Danny Davis (D-Chicago); Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ); and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) are backing Ilya Sheyman.
Tree Raises $101,000 in Fourth Quarter

From this your LakeCountyEye has divined the names of at least 3 Democratic candidates:

• John Tree
• Brad Schneider
• Ilya Sheyman

Both Tree and Schneider have garnered the endorsements of not only some of DC's Democratic power-brokers, but some local heavy hitters as well. Sheyman, on the other hand, has got endorsements from some Chicago Congressmen, as well as from some out-of-state Congressmen who represent the Rachel Maddow Show.

Without knowing anything else about the Democrats in the Tenth district, your LakeCountyEye is ready to call this contest: it's a slam-dunk for Sheyman.

The reason why: Sheyman is the only candidate who seems to appreciate Nixon's Dictum:

Richard Nixon famously advised Republican presidential candidates to run to the right in the primaries and to the center in the general election.
Framing the Republican Race

With Gingrich & Romney battling it out on the Republican side, your LakeCountyEye suspects the only voter who asks for a Democratic ballot in March is that voter who even recognizes names like Raul Grijalva and Keith Ellison. (Provided, of course, that voter remembers to vote.) Ha ha, operatives in the 10th may as well pack up their yardsigns and find honest employment somewhere else. Sheyman will win the Primary there in a landslide -- following the politically right-minded trail blazed by Richard Nixon.