democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and my great friend sheila simon is here. wonderful friend for treasurer robin kelly. outstanding young public servant nominee for comp troler david miller. alderman and democratic nominee for the president and my elderwoman is here. i want to thank carmen for doing such a great job in the opening. chicago boy. and treasure and soon to be senator from the great state of illinois. you say you're fired up and ready to go? how about you? are you fired up and ready to go? i can't think -- [chanting] >> thank you. look, i can't think of anything better than being with a hometown crowd that is fired up. [cheers and applause] plus, i'm going to sleep in my own bed tonight. now, chicago, in three days you have the chance to set the direction of this state and this country for years to come. and just like you did in 2008, you can defy the conventional wisdom, the kind that says you can't overcome cynicism in politics, you can't overcome the special interests, you can't overcome the big money, you can't overcome all the negativity, you

. -- sheila simon is here. [applause] another wonderful friend, nominee for treasurer, robin kelly.for doing such a great job in the opening, chicago boy, and treasurer and soon to be senator from the great state of illinois, alexi gentleman nool was is here -- alexi giannoulias is here. you say you're fired up and ready to go? how about you? are you fired up and ready to go? [cheers and applause] [crowd chanting] [crowd chanting "obama"] >> thank you. look, i can't think of anything better than being with a hometown crowd that is fired up. plus, i'm going to sleep in my own bed tonight. now, chicago, in three days you have the chance to set the direction of this state and this country for years to come. and just like you did in 2008, you can defy the conventional wisdom, the kind that says you can't overcome cynicism in politics, you can't overcome the special interests, you can't overcome the big money, you can't overcome all the negativity, you can't overcome the big challenges anymore, you can't elect the skinny guy with the funny name to the u.s. senate or the presidency. in th

my running mate, sheila simon, and i will enforce those ethics laws and make sure the people of illinois have an honest government. that's the kind of government the people want. two governors before me, one's in jail, one's in court. we also believe in taking on budget problems honestly, not with a fake plan that doesn't involve balancing the budget, but will increase the budget deficit. what we have to have is a governor who can cut the budget as i have by over $3 billion but still maintain investment in education, healthcare, public safety and helping our veterans. and i think our veterans are a model to me. they work hard, they take on every challenge, they never complain, they understand it's all about the future. all of us as adults and parents, we have to make sacrifices today to help our kids' future. that's what america's all about. that's what illinois is all about. there will always be fast-talking politicians who tell you what they think you want to hear but don't tell you what you need to know. i want to be a politician, governor of illinois, who tells the truth before and a

my running mate, sheila simon, and i will enforce those ethics laws and make sure the people of illinois have an honest government. that's the kind of government the people want. two governors before me, one's in jail, one's in court. we also believe in taking on budget problems honestly, not with a fake plan that doesn't involve balancing the budget, but will increase the budget deficit. what we have to have is a governor who can cut the budget as i have by over $3 billion but still maintain investment in education, healthcare, public safety and helping our veterans. and i think our veterans are a model to me. they work hard, they take on every challenge, they never complain, they understand it's all about the future. all of us as adults and parents, we have to make sacrifices today to help our kids' future. that's what america's all about. that's what illinois is all about. there will always be fast-talking politicians who tell you what they think you want to hear but don't tell you what you need to know. i want to be a politician, governor of illinois, who tells the truth before and a

my running mate, sheila simon, and i will enforce those ethics laws and make sure the people of illinois have an honest government. that's the kind of government the people want. two governors before me, one's in jail, one's in court. we also believe in taking on budget problems honestly, not with a fake plan that doesn't involve balancing the budget, but will increase the budget deficit. what we have to have is a governor who can cut the budget as i have by over $3 billion but still maintain investment in education, healthcare, public safety and helping our veterans. and i think our veterans are a model to me. they work hard, they take on every challenge, they never complain, they understand it's all about the future. all of us as adults and parents, we have to make sacrifices today to help our kids' future. that's what america's all about. that's what illinois is all about. there will always be fast-talking politicians who tell you what they think you want to hear but don't tell you what you need to know. i want to be a politician, governor of illinois, who tells the truth before and a

we've got the next lieutenant govern of the great state of illinois -- sheila simon.applause] who, by the way, knows a little bit about good senators. congressman danny davis is in the house. [applause] congresswoman jan schakowsky is here. [applause] love jan. attorney general lisa madigan is here. [applause] comptroller dan hynes is here. [applause] senator president john cullerton is here. [applause] the next treasurer, robin kelly is in the house. [alause] the next comptroller, david miller is in the house. [applause] now, i see everybody else here. aughter] but if i started naming everybody i know i'm in trouble. so i've just got to stop. [laughter] except to say that it's also nice to be standing here with the next senator from the great statof illinois, alexi giannoulias. [applause] alexi is my friend. i know his character. i know how much he loves this country. i know how committed he is to public service. he has been a great advocate on behalf of the people of illinois, and he's in this for the right reasons. special in it for the interests; he's in it for yo

we've got the next lieutenant governor of the great state of illinois -- sheila simon.applause] who, by the way, knows a little bit about good senators. congressman danny davis is in the house. [applause] congresswoman jan schakowsky is here. [applause] love jan. attorney general lisa madigan is here. [applause] comptroller dan hynes is here. [applause] senator president john cullerton is here. [applause] the next treasurer, robin kelly is in the house. [applause] the next comptroller, david miller is in the house. [applause] now, i see everybody else here. [laughter] but if i started naming everybody i know i'm in trouble. so i've just got to stop. [laughter] except to say that it's also nice to be standing here with the next senator from the great state of illinois, alexi giannoulias. [applause] alexi is my friend. i know his character. i know how much he loves this country. i know how committed he is to public service. he has been a great advocate on behalf of the people of illinois, and he's in this for the right reasons. special in it for the interests; he's in it