SPRINGFIELD -- In a departure from months of acrimony, Illinois'top Democrats resisted taking potshots at one another Wednesday andfocused an Illinois State Fair rally on the party's fall ticket,including its rising star and senatorial nominee, Barack Obama.
Uncharacteristically, Gov. Blagojevich, House Speaker MichaelMadigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) puttheir budget- and personality-driven feuding on hold while singingthe virtues of Obama and presidential nominee John Kerry to hundredsof party loyalists.
"From time to time, we don't always agree on every single issue.There are some squabbles," the governor told hundreds at thesweltering fairground rally, where many waved blue-and-white Obamasigns.
"But like all families, it's time to put that behind us, look tothe future and unify behind the principles that make us Democrats."
Still aglow from his well-regarded, nationally televised speech atthe Democratic National Convention, Obama was mobbed everywhere hewent by autograph seekers and those wanting a picture taken with him.
"In my neighborhood," Secretary of State Jesse White told theDemocratic faithful, "they'd say, 'Barack, you the man.' "
The state senator from Hyde Park downplayed any role his suddenpopularity may have in helping focus the party on the fall elections,rather than on settling scores from a turbulent legislative session,and promised not to disregard his new GOP rival, Alan Keyes.
"To the extent I can help unify the Democrats, I'm happy to do it.But I tell you what, I've never seen them more unified," Obama said.
But Republicans ridiculed the happy face Democrats wore Wednesday.
"It's somewhat ironic that it's newsworthy they're getting alongas opposed to what we've been seeing the past few months," state GOPspokesman Jason Gerwig said, citing the budgetary feuds that alignedMadigan with Republicans against Blagojevich and Jones.
Today, the GOP will hold its pep rally at the fairgrounds, withMarylander Keyes as the headliner amid uncertainties as to whetherparty stalwarts like former Governors Jim Edgar and James Thompson,who are dissatisfied with Keyes' selection, will even bother to show.
In anticipation of Keyes' first campaign appearance in the statecapital, his short-term residency and lack of familiarity withIllinois' culture gave Democrats a plump target Wednesday.
"The Republicans will come here, and they'll have their owncelebration. They'll bring their senatorial candidate," Sen DickDurbin (D-Ill.) said. "Instead of serving pork chops, they'll beserving Maryland crab cakes. Instead of talking about the beauties ofLake Michigan, they're going to talk about the Chesapeake Bay.They're going to talk about the Baltimore Ravens and the BaltimoreOrioles.
"They're going to have a great time of it," Durbin continued. "Butafter [today], the real campaign starts, and we have something theydon't have. We've got the genuine article, Barack Obama."
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