DuPage GOPers hoist McCain and Palin

WEST CHICAGO -- Over 1000 Sarah Palin lipsticks, 1000 McCain/Palin yard signs and 1000 containers of Oberweis ice cream were distributed Monday night at DuPage Co GOP's annual rally.  Those attending were notably enthused about John McCain's pick for VP, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. 

RNC Committeeman Pat Brady said when he returned from the Republican National Convention, he had 450 emails asking how they could help with the McCain/Palin campaign. Brady said the IL GOP was working to get McCain and Palin to Illinois, but admitted it would be a tough task. "Illinois isn't too high on the priority list, but things could change quickly.  We're going to keep trying," he said.  "There's no doubt, Palin energized the base in Illinois."

State Rep. Jim Durkin said he was headed to Springfield for Tuesday's session, and was the only state lawmaker at the DuPage event, as the others were at the Capitol.   Durkin addressed the crowd as chairman of Illinois' McCain campaign saying at the Republican National Convention,  "...we watched the emergence of one of the greatest political stars to come on the horizon in GovernorSarah Palin..."

Republican candidate to replace retiring State Rep. Jim Meyers Lisle's Mike Connelly said he, too, is encouraged about the renewed enthusiasm among Republicans since the convention. "We're not taking anything for granted, but things look good for my race," Connelly said.

"I'm not sure it came across the air waves the electricity there was in the auditorium the night Sarah Palin spoke," IL GOP's Exec Director Jason Heffley said.  "It was something I'd never seen before.  People of all ages were caught up in the atmophere."

Below the fold are some clips from the night's rally speeches, including Joe Birkett, Dr. Steve Sauerberg, Congressman Peter Roskam's wife Elizabeth, 14th CD candidate Jim Oberweis and State Rep. Jim Durkin.