There's an interesting editorial in the Chicago Sun-Times entitled, "Will the Immigrant Story Play in 2010?" It focuses on some of the candidates in Illinois who are running for office and whether or not stories of how their parents or grandparents came to this country and lived out the American dream are an advantage anymore. One of the featured candidates is Raja Krishamoorthi who is running for Illinois Comtroller:

"This remains a tough issue," said Chicago-based public affairs consultant Jim Prescott. "Talking about immigrants living the American dream in a positive way in a campaign could be difficult even though there is nothing more American than coming to this country and succeeding."

It's not difficult at all for Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for Illinois Comptroller in the Democratic primary.

"I am an immigrant," the former deputy state treasurer told me on the day he officially announced his candidacy near his hometown of Peoria. "I was born in India and was very young when I came here. This country has given my family everything, and people feel really good hearing about my story."

Krishnamoorthi said he's aware as he travels the state that he might have to respond to a heated cross-examination about how Illinois is outsourcing tech jobs to places like India. But he's not worried about double-edged swords. He exudes a palpable American folksiness -- just call him Raja, he says -- that is the antithesis of foreign.

"Despite what's swirling in the greater immigration debate," Krishnamoorthi said, "people still want to hear that it is possible to reaffirm the highest values of our country and attain the classic American dream."

In politics, as in life, The American Dream -- haunting, prophetic, or sweet -- is recurring.

With articles like, "Controller candidate John Liu plays immigrant card in campaign video" in the New York Daily News, you have to wonder. 

I am glad to see that Krishnamoorthi embraces his personal story and sees it as a strength and not a weakness.