Durbin, Sauerberg vie for U.S. Senate

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SPRINGFIELD (AP) - A Republican physician hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on Nov. 4 is campaigning with the mantra of opposition's standard-bearer, Barack Obama: Change. Dr. Steve Sauerberg even jokes that he's hoping for the Democratic presidential nominee's endorsement - even though Obama enthusiastically supports his fellow Democrat in the Senate. "Despite the fact that Sen. Durbin is standing next to Barack Obama, it doesn't mean he has anything to do with change," Sauerberg said. "Durbin's been in Washington forever; he's been a politician forever. That's not change. We would be a lot better off moving to some new people and some new thoughts." Durbin, who holds the U.S. Senate's No. 2 post, says his experience is exactly why Illinois voters should send him back to Washington. Durbin, 63, is seeking his third term in the Senate after seven in the House. He has risen to assistant majority leader, which, he said, "means I'm at the table for all the important decisions and it means that Illinois is at the table." Ticking off items on the next president's dismal agenda, from war to the financial crisis, Durbin contends experience is a must. "If we are going to solve these problems, and that's why we're here, we need people who understand them and are willing to stand up and show some leadership," the Springfield Democrat said. Sauerberg, a 55-year-old family physician from the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook who has been in practice for 25 years, wants to revamp the health care system to control costs, in part by setting up separate health courts to deal with malpractice cases. He believes the U.S. should drill more domestic oil to stop "making countries that don't like us wealthy," but only until the nation has further developed alternatives to oil, such as nuclear power and automobiles powered by electricity. The U.S. is winning the war in Iraq, Sauerberg said, and troops should come home only when Iraq is stabilized with a terror-fighting government. He opposes a government bailout of Wall Street, although he has acknowledged Washington should have a role. He said he prefers private-sector solutions, such as a moratorium on capital gains taxes. Durbin, criticized for his partisanship in the Senate, touts bipartisan support for his legislation to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses as a first step toward an employer-based universal health plan. He supports helping oil companies move more quickly on domestic drilling in places where they already have permission and has longed pushed to require more fuel-efficient cars. He opposed the Iraq war, calls it a failure and has been demanding an orderly demobilization there. Durbin supports the federal bailout of lenders but criticized the deregulation of the financial industry and said he sponsored several unsuccessful measures in the past decade to curb easy credit. Sauerberg has far less money to spread his message to voters than Durbin. In July, Sauerberg had $1.07 million in his campaign account, mostly money he loaned himself, while Durbin had $8.1 million. Also in the race are Green Party candidate Kathy Cummings of Chicago; Larry A. Stafford of South Beloit, a Libertarian; and Constitution Party candidate Chad N. Koppie of Gilberts. Steve Sauerberg Age -- 55 Home -- Willowbrook Family -- Wife Nancy; two children. Education -- Bachelor of Science in chemistry, MacMurray College; medical degree, Rush University School of Medicine. Experience -- Never previously ran for elective public office. Family physician for last 25 years in Chicago's western suburbs. On the Web - sauerbergforsenate.com Richard Durbin Age -- 63 Home -- Springfield Family -- Wife, Loretta, three children Education -- Bachelor's degree in foreign service and economics and juris doctorate degree, Georgetown University. Experience -- U.S. House, 1983-1997; U.S. Senate, 1997-present. On the Web - dickdurbin.com and durbin.senate.gov