THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

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10th Dist. Dems Rally For Obama Speech

By TOM ROBB

Journal & Topics Reporter

As an estimated 40 million people watched Barack Obama give his acceptance speech last Thursday as the Democratic Party nominee for president, approximately 500 area residents got together to view the speech with 10th District congressional hopeful Dan Seals.

"I want you to dig deep. No, not into your pockets, though that is appreciated, but to work hard for the next 68 days," Seals told the enthusiastic crowd. They met at a Deerfield hotel. The crowd sat with wrapped attention watching Obama make his acceptance speech on two large projection screens. They rose to their feet several times during the speech cheering Obama's message.

Seals is running against Republican incumbent Mark Kirk in the Nov. 4 election. Several at the event criticized Kirk's recent vote against federal equal pay legislation. Democratic candidate Dan Biss, running for state representative in the 17th Dist., also made an appearance at the event with his wife Karin Steinbrueck and son Elliot Biss.