Schock easy winner in GOP race to replace LaHood
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Overcoming an early campaign gaffe about selling nuclear bombs to Taiwan, state Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, was cruising to an easy win over two opponents in the 18th Congressional District Republican primary.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">With just over a third of the vote counted, Schock had 71 percent.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Business development expert Jim McConoughey was polling 17 percent, while former Peoria City Council member John Morris had 12 percent.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"We built a strong grass-roots campaign in all counties in the district," Schock said, adding that Republican colleagues in the General Assembly "plugged me in" to areas outside of his home base in Peoria. Schock, a two-term state legislator, racked up endorsements from GOP officials throughout the 20-county district that includes part of Springfield.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Schock is running for the seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood of Peoria, who did not seek re-election.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">There is no Democratic challenger in the race yet after former challenger Dick Versace dropped out. However, Colleen Callahan, a former agriculture reporter for Peoria radio and television stations, is being wooed as a candidate. Callahan said Tuesday she has met with several Democratic officials about a run.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"I am overwhelmed with the support I have received that crosses party lines," Callahan said.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">She is a niece of longtime political activist Gene Callahan of Springfield.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Schock's campaign nearly came derailed as soon as it started after he used his announcement speech to propose selling nuclear missiles to Taiwan. Schock said he wanted China's aid in pressuring Iraq to scrap any nuclear weapons program, and if China didn't go along, the United States should put nuclear weapons in Taiwan.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Schock's opponents criticized the comments, saying they reflected Schock's youth and inexperience. However, Schock, 26, recanted the statement, and it did not damage his candidacy.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">On other issues, such as the war in Iraq, health care and energy, there was little to separate the three Republicans. All opposed an abrupt pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq, all favored a market-based approach to health-care reform, and all supported development of alternative energy sources.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Schock also handily outspent both of his opponents.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Doug Finke can be reached at (218) 788-1527.</font>
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