Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush has easily won reelection in a heavily African-American Chicago seat for 24 years, but his fight for a 13th term may be decided in a courtroom rather than at the polls. It's a well-worn tradition in Illinois politics to challenge petition signatures, but primary challenger Chicago Alderman Howard Brookins, Jr. is confident Rush is 572 signatures short of the 1,314 he needs to qualify for the March 15 primary ballot. The Rush campaign has brushed off the petition challenge, calling it frivolous. But consultants for Brookins, who got into the race just several weeks ago in something of a sneak attack, claim the 69-year old incumbent's complacent campaign operation turned in hundreds of invalid signatures from voters who live outside the district. The Illinois State Board of Elections will hold a preliminary hearing next Monday, and both sides are gearing up for a legal fight. There's virtually no chance Brookins could beat Rush if both appeared on the primary ballot. Although Brookins has served as an alderman for over a decade and his father was a

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