Durbin challenger’s goal: Win, but keep humanity Posted on September 3rd
ST. PAUL — I wanted to call him Dr. Quixote and did, over a cup of coffee, figuring that little-known Republican family doctor Steve Sauerberg was a dreamer for challenging Illinois Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin for election in the fall.
Other Illinois Republicans were filing into the breakfast room at their hotel, smiling politely at Sauerberg, giving him tight little nods and then politely turning toward the eggs. The way they turned showed they didn’t think much of the man’s chances either.
Durbin has spent the last 26 years in Washington–15 in the House and 11 in the Senate–and Illinois is a blue state with Barack Obama leading the ticket. And who knows Steve Sauerberg? His family, his barber and his patients. But not enough voters know him, and he chases windmills trying to get the media to tell his story.
So I tossed up my Dr. Quixote wisecrack, and the second the words came out past my teeth I regretted them.
“Well, you may think I’m dreaming. I’m not well known, it’s been difficult getting my story out, and Barack Obama is leading the Democratic ticket,” said the conservative Sauerberg. “But I have to do this. And I’ve learned something very valuable. Do you want to know what it is?”