By David R. Kazak

In an effort to raise $20,000 for U.S. Rep. Richard Durbin’s campaign for Sen. Paul Simon’s Senate seat, which is up for election next year, Simon played host to area Democratic supporters at his home in Makanda Sunday.

Durbin said he is seeking to be a successor to Simon, who has announced he will not seek re-election next year. Durbin is gearing up his campaign to include fund-raisers across the state designed to gain wider recognition, Durbin’s down-state director of finance Michelle Ishmael said.

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Those who paid $25 for the BBQ lunch at the Simon residence said they were surprised and impressed by the number of people who turned out for the event, but they also pointed out the campaign will be an uphill battle for Durbin.

For a crowd to show up like this and show their support, well, it’s kind of exciting, Ishmael said. It’s going to be an exciting year, but we know the Democrats have to have a strong showing next year. Clinton has to do very well.

Matt Deffley, of Murphysboro, said he came out to support Durbin and that he was impressed by the turnout.

I think the support he has is really great, Deffley said. I want to know more about him though. But still, it is obvious he has the support of Paul Simon.

Simon has endorsed Durbin on many occasions since Durbin’s announcement earlier this year that he would be seeking Simon’s seat in the Senate.

During the fund-raiser, Simon said he was pleased with Durbin and that Durbin would make a good senator because he is already familiar with the intricate workings of Congress.

I’ve even had some Republican senators tell me that if there could be a secret ballot, they would vote for Dick, Simon said. He knows people in Congress, and he knows the Senate.

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Durbin said anyone who is a successor to Simon must understand Simon. Durbin said he fills that position well.

As a sidebar to supporting Simon’s Direct Student Loan Program, which has been under attack by Republicans, Durbin said he wants the program to be called the Simon Loan Program.

Durbin said he would work to save what he could of Simon’s financial aid programs because he said Simon has already proven they work.

The only people unhappy with the Direct Student Loan Program are the banks that have made money off students, Durbin said. They are resisting these new student loans.

I will make sure these student loans are available, Durbin said.

Durbin also touched on other issues, including Medicare, jobs and minimum wage.

There are too many people struggling to make ends meet on the current minimum wage, he said That needs to change.

SIUC students Sarah McGhee and Maggie Bednar, both members of the College Democrats, said they could not offer an endorsement of any single candidate because it was against their organizations rules. But they said they were at the fund-raiser to let Durbin know they were there if he needed their help.

College of Liberal Arts Dean John Jackson said Durbin is well-known in Southern Illinois but will have a lot of work to do in making his name known in Chicago.

He needs to make in-roads up there, Jackson said. But the further south you go, the stronger his support gets.