Aurora Beacon News - Giannoulias Works Kane Audience to Build Momentum in Senate Race

Press Release

BY ROWENA VERGARA

U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias called upon Kane County Democrats to help keep Illinois' open U.S. Senate seat blue, and in turn, pledged to fight for healthcare reform and retaining jobs that are being lost.

"If you send me to the U.S. Senate, your voice will be my voice, your hope will be my hope and your fight will be my fight," Giannoulias said Sunday at the annual Harry S. Truman dinner hosted by Kane County Democrats.

Giannoulias faces Republican Congressman Mark Kirk in the general election for the seat previously held by President Barack Obama.

Giannoulias on Sunday called Kirk a Washington insider, out of touch with working-class families. The nominee said that while he is the first Illinois candidate for this seat to refuse funds from federal lobbyists, Kirk has taken money from big banks and insurance companies.

Giannoulias also blamed what he labeled "the Bush-Kirk administration" for "reckless, failed policies."

But in the Senate race, Kirk enjoys strong support in Kane County, as well as Kendall.

Kirk, who represents the 10th Congressional District, received some 17,560 votes in Kane in the primary election, making him the top U.S. Senate contender among county voters.

In comparison, Kane voters placed Giannoulias second to David Hoffman by a difference of about 180 votes.

In Kendall, however, Democrats favored Giannoulias, the incumbent state treasurer, over Hoffman, the former city of Chicago inspector general.

The task for the fall -- and the theme repeated throughout the event held at Pipers Banquets -- will be to bind together to win the general election straight down the ticket, local and regional Democratic leaders said.

"Democrats up and down the ticket are going to be the ones who are going to put Illinois back to work," said Tom Quinn, speaking on behalf of his brother, Gov. Pat Quinn.

Other candidates, including Robin Kelly, running for state treasurer, and David Miller, running for comptroller, voiced their thanks to Kane County voters, especially organized labor, for their support.

The dinner was heavily attended by members of the laborers, sheet metal workers, electrical workers and letter carriers unions.

Also speaking was State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, who focused on the need to raise new revenues for the state to help save basic human services like education, healthcare and public safety.

She also touched upon the message of cooperation among people who might have supported rivals who lost in the primary.

"Once the primaries are over and we have the candidates in place, we need to forget those differences and work together," Holmes said.

More than 200 people attended Sunday's dinner.

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