Crowd rallies for 10th district
The energy was infectious.
Hundreds of boisterous 10th Congressional District Democrats packed a crowded conference room at the Deerfield Hyatt Sunday afternoon for the group's inaugural convention.
They clapped, whistled, blew noisemakers and cheered with a pep rally-like atmosphere as Democratic candidates vying for a host of local, state and national seats in the February and November elections gave their spiels.
The walls were plastered with candidates' banners, and red, white and blue balloons decked the room.
Many participants said this type of old-fashioned Democratic convention was long overdue.
"I think it's great," said Mary Maillard, 53, of Mundelein, representing the Libertyville Township Democrats. "It's just a great way for people to hear everybody … lots of new ideas and old."
The biggest standing ovation of the event came when U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president in his keynote speech, prompting "Obama" chants from the crowd.
Obama was the crowd darling in a straw poll held at the end of the convention. He received 131 votes to Hillary Clinton's 72 votes, leaving the other two Democratic presidential candidates far behind.
Earlier that afternoon, Durbin endorsed Dan Seals for the 10th Congressional District Democratic primary.
Seals gained much name recognition and a following since losing the 2006 election against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, Durbin noted.
Judging by the support in the room Sunday and the straw poll results, Seals was another crowd favorite.
Seals, 36, of Wilmette, received 180 votes compared to primary election opponent Jay Footlik, 42, of Buffalo Grove, who received 44 votes in the poll.
Lauren Beth Gash, head of the Tenth Dems, as the group is known, was thrilled with Sunday's turnout.
Gash has worked to unify and coordinate Democrats in the 10th District after her narrow loss to incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk in 2000.
"We started this with four people in my living room just 4 years ago," she said. "We have over 1,000 volunteers, 4,000 people on our list. We're growing."
The district stretches from Waukegan south to Wilmette and west through parts of Arlington Heights and Palatine. It includes all or part of Waukegan, Warren, Shields, Moraine, West Deerfield, Vernon, Libertyville, New Trier, Northfield, Wheeling, Elk Grove and Palatine townships.