A tale of two candidate visits
Two presidential contenders stopped in Chicago on Friday to give a little attention -- in their own, unique ways -- to Illinois voters in the march toward the state's Feb. 5 primary.
On one side of the city, Barack Obama's camp reached out to the younger crowd with a "Change Rocks" pop concert, complete with several big names and his own name in flashing lights on the marquee of a North Side theater. To the south, Rudy Giuliani fielded questions on health care, Iraq and taxes from a more buttoned-up crowd in a town hall-style meeting.
Supporters of both were out in force.
Outside the Riviera Theatre, a bundled-up Elizabeth Kruger of Chicago stood waiting for a friend before heading into the Obama concert -- a show scheduled to feature Macy Gray, Jeff Tweedy and others.
"If you're going to donate to a campaign, it's nice to see Jeff Tweedy as a bonus," she reasoned, saying that seemed far more attractive than shelling out $100 or more for the more formal events offered by some candidates -- like "a dinner that I don't really want to go to."
Miles away, 27-year-old Stevenson High School graduate Anna Tarkov was among those who jostled for a chance to meet Giuliani -- and perhaps snare an autograph -- after his appearance. She missed out, falling behind in the mob of photo-snapping fans, but didn't hold back on her optimism for the candidate and the nation's potential future with him at the helm.
Tarkov used to consider herself a Democrat, she says, but now identifies with the Republican party.
"A lot of people, young and old, don't know what they believe in, or why they believe it," she said, urging against voters supporting anything "just because it's popular."
Giuliani, whose appearance marks what likely will be the beginning of a true battle over the state's Republican voters, told the crowd he has a "special fondness" for Chicago -- a city he says helped immensely in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks that came when he was mayor of New York City. He mentioned his view on Iraq several times, saying he'd like to see victory there -- turning the country, he said, into a stable ally -- and promising he wouldn't abandon that position unless "I thought it was totally impossible to achieve it."
He also briefly tackled immigration issues in the course of his roughly one-hour talk, and he said amid applause he'd like to ensure that those who aspire to be U.S. citizens can speak, read, write and understand the English language.
The main focus for Giuliani and his opponents for now is Iowa -- that state's Jan. 3 caucus is the first hurdle for presidential candidates -- but "We'll be back" to Illinois, he told the crowd Friday, pointing out the Feb. 5 primary here makes Illinois an "early state" as well.
Obama's appearance came one day before Oprah Winfrey is set to hit the campaign trail for him in Iowa.
Using such star power should be applauded, voter and concert-goer Patrick Heilman of Glenview said.
He said Obama himself is cool and clever, he said, for coming up with such options for people like Heilman who prefer having fun to rubbing shoulders with local bigwigs.
"It's a natural thing for him to do," Heilman said of the concert, which was scheduled to feature comments from Obama at about 9 p.m. "It's not sly, or some political thing."
The younger politician secured his vote, Heilman said, because he's intelligent, has done well as a senator, has a solid sense of what he wants to bring to the table and seems to understand people's needs.
Polls have shown Obama and Hillary Clinton, both Democratic candidates with strong Illinois ties, running neck and neck. Clinton's campaign Web site says she'll be in Illinois this week.