Party all-stars are making final sales pitches for mid-term Democrats in Chicago before election day.
Former President Bill Clinton is headlining an event at the Palmer House Tuesday, where he's expected to urge attendees to vote before Nov. 2. The event is open to the public.
Clinton has been a popular campaign attraction this election season, and considered, half-jokingly, as the most popular Democrat in the race.
But the former president has been going his own route, according to The New York Times.
Mr. Clinton is not particularly close to Mr. Obama. He coordinates with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., but makes his own decisions about whom to help. He has focused on aiding Democrats who endorsed Mrs. Clinton against Mr. Obama, like Representative Mark Schauer here in Battle Creek. Some Democrats call it a “retribution tour”; aides said they think of it as a “thank you tour.” And Mr. Clinton has helped some who did not take her side, most noticeably Gov. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, who is running for Senate.
Clinton will focus his attention here on helping Alexi Giannoulias and Governor Pat Quinn, who are both behind in their races.
Campaigner-in-chief President Obama will follow Clinton's lead and hold a massive get-out-the-vote rally in Chicago Saturday to help home state Democrats win.
Politics
It's his first free and public event in his hometown since his presidency began. The location is still to be determined, but a massive crowd is expected.
Democrats landed hip-hop artist Common, a South Side native, to perform before a crowd that could mirror other recent campaign stops nationwide where tens of thousands attended.
"We expect a large-scale event this coming Saturday." said Lynda Tan, Organizing for America spokesperson. "We are working to accommodate many people."
The stop in Chicago will cap a whirlwind weekend for Obama and his Vice President Joe Biden, who will visit four states in the final days before mid term elections.
