Contenders for the seat in the 19th Congressional District are preparing for the closing days of a long campaign as incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus faces Democrat Daniel Davis and Green Party candidate Troy Dennis.

The district, which includes all or parts of 30 counties, runs from Springfield at the north to the Kentucky border at the south and includes the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis.

Davis, 27, of Chatham, said he has heard a lot of concerns about the economy from citizens of the district.

"Almost everywhere I go, people are talking about the economy and how they've been affected on the local level," Davis said. "Twenty-nine out of 30 counties in my district have unemployment rates higher than the national average, and the folks are definitely concerned right now."

Davis said with the candidacy of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, more enthusiasm has been generated among younger voters.

"Everywhere I go there are a lot of young folks who are definitely excited," Davis said. "There's a sense of anticipation in the air of the opportunity to put new faces and new voices into our nation's decision-making process."

Troy Dennis, 45, of Glen Carbon, said he fields more questions about the economy than he did at the beginning of the race - something he welcomes, since he joined the race largely over concerns about the country's fiscal policies.

"The reason I was running anyway was because of the economy and the size of our government and monetary policies, so I knew (the issues) would change, I just didn't know when," Dennis said.

The Decatur native replaced Green Party candidate Vic Roberts on the ballot after Roberts died July 5.

Shimkus, 50, of Collinsville, who retired from the U.S. Army Reserves in June with the rank of lieutenant colonel, is serving his sixth term as representative from the 19th District.

Shimkus, who voted against the $700 billion bailout package that passed Congress earlier this month, said his campaign talks have centered on the country's energy policy and on the economy.

"It's not rocket science - energy and the economy are tied hand in hand and they're not very difficult things for people in Central and Southern Illinois to understand," Shimkus said.

Shimkus said despite Obama's nationwide appeal, he has no worries about an "Obama Effect" in his own district.

"I would think if you would poll south of I-80, you would find John McCain doing extremely well," Shimkus said.

Kenneth Lowe writes for the Herald & Review, a Lee Enterprises sister newspaper of The Southern Illinoisan.

John Shimkus

Party: Republican

Age: 50

Family: Married with 3 children

Experience: Completing his sixth term in U.S. House; retired from U.S. Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel

Daniel Davis

Party: Democrat

Age: 27

Family: Single

Experience: First-time candidate; former special assistant to the director, Illinois Department of Public Health

Troy Dennis

Party: Green

Age: 45

Family: Married with three children

Experience: Owner, Logistics IQ in Glen Carbon; first-time candidate; helped efforts of presidential candidate Ron Paul