Born in Saline County in Southern Illinois, Democrat David Phelps grew up in Eldorado and remained close to his Illinois roots before entering the state's political realm. He earned an associate's degree at Southeastern Illinois College followed by a bachelor's degree at the Southern Illinois University of Carbondale.

After college, Phelps was a public school teacher and later a sporting goods storeowner. An accomplished professional songwriter, Phelps devoted significant time to touring the nation singing gospel music with his brothers, known as the Phelps Brothers Quartet. Phelps still actively showcases his musical talents -- he and his brothers composed the background music for his latest television ad campaign, a song called "Let's Hear It for the Working Man."

Phelps' first foray into public service came in 1980 when he was elected Saline County clerk and recorder. In 1984, he moved to the Illinois House, unseating a veteran Republican representative. During his ensuing 14 years in the state legislature, Phelps' voting record had all the hallmarks of a typical conservative Democrat: anti-abortion, anti-gun control and for the death penalty according to the Almanac of American Politics. Meanwhile, he also sought to improve health care and education in rural areas of Southern Illinois.

In 1998, Phelps ran for the 19th district seat in the U.S. Congress when fellow Democrat Glen Poshard left after 10 years in the seat to run for Governor of Illinois. According to the Almanac of American Politics, Phelps ran much of his campaign for the House seat based on his similarities to Poshard: "I grew up 15 miles from Glen Poshard. We go way back. We taught together. We came to Springfield together, with the same agenda," Phelps told voters.

With the support of the Blue Dog Conservative Democrat Coalition and the New Democrats, Phelps won the seat with 58 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, Poshard went on to win the Democratic nomination, but lose the state election for governor to George Ryan.

While in the House, Phelps has remained a member of the conservative Blue Dogs and New Democrat groups, stressing a spirit of common sense when approaching bipartisan issues. His voting record remains anti-abortion and anti-gun control. A self-proclaimed staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, Phelps received an "A" rating from the NRA and voted against background checks at gun shows while in Congress.

During his freshman year in the House, Phelps faced a tricky vote on normalizing trade relations with China -- a difficult task with a constituency full of labor-backers and farmers. After extensive research and declining an invitation from the Clinton administration to join a delegation to China, Phelps opposed the deal, citing the country's problematic human rights record and concerns that China would not live up to the terms of a new trade agreement.

Phelps has also continued to seek federal money for priorities he established at the state level, including economics, education and health care development for the rural areas of his district.

Phelps was re-elected in 2000, carrying nearly 65 percent of the vote. But with population growth waning in Illinois, the 2000 Census led to a major redistricting and the state lost one seat in the House. Much of Phelps' 19th district was divided into three surrounding districts, leaving only 34 percent of his former constituents in the "new 19."

Phelps won the Democratic nomination to run for the 19th district seat by 83 percent of the vote, but will face a challenge in a newly-configured district that elected President Bush with 58 percent of the vote.

Phelps has been married for 32 years and has four children and one grandchild. In his spare time, Phelps draws on his musical background as hymn director for the Congressional Weekly Prayer Breakfast on Capitol Hill.

--By Maureen Hoch, Online NewsHour