The Illinois primaries are on February 2, not too far away. The papers in that state are starting to make endorsements, and today the Chicago Sun-Times endorses one guy who the NRCC thinks is one of their rising stars:
Democrats are not supposed to win in this traditionally Republican district that runs from the southern suburbs to small towns to farm fields. But Democrat Debbie Halvorson did win two years ago, swept into Washington with the Democratic tide, which explains why four GOP contenders, now running in the Republican primary, are eager to take her on in November.
Of these contenders, one looks sure to win this primary — and sure to give Halvorson fits. That would be Adam Kinzinger, a captain and pilot in the U.S. Air Force National Guard, who enjoys overwhelming support from local GOP leaders.
Kinzinger gets our strong endorsement. He is a thoughtful and proven conservative, short on pandering angry rhetoric and long on public service. His personal style suggests a maturity that belies his age, just 32.
While a sophomore at Illinois State University in 1998, Kinzinger was elected to the McLean County Board, where he opposed pay raises for elected officials and tax increases. Four years later, he earned easy re-election, with local newspaper support, to another term.
But Kinzinger quit the county board, as well as a job with a technology firm, to go on active duty with the Air Force, having joined up one month after Sept. 11, 2001. He has served three tours of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan.
As a congressman, Kinzinger says, he would emphasize conservative fiscal approaches to reviving the economy, including making permanent the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 and cutting corporate taxes to encourage investment and production.