Chicago Tribune: Obama a big hit in Lockport

"On Tuesday in Lockport, Barack Obama held his first town hall meeting since being sworn in as a U.S. senator, but for the 500 Will County residents who attended, the event was more like a happening.

Illinois' junior senator was accorded treatment usually reserved for movie and rock stars. Youngsters, middle-age folks and senior citizens sought to shake his hand, get his autograph or have a picture taken with him. Obama, smiling broadly and obviously enjoying the attention, consented to each request.

"I can't tell you enough how great it is having you come to visit us," said a man in his 30s after Obama agreed to autograph the back of his white T-shirt.

Obama replied, "It's wonderful to be here to thank all of you who voted for me."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0501120244jan12,1,3119195.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed

Apparently he had a town hall the in Lockport yesterday. He has a town hall in Waukegan tomorrow. I know I can't make it to Waukegan and I wouldn't be surprised if you have to be invited. DUers in the are should check into this though.

I may just have to stay late at work and go hit it.

ON EDIT: Never mind, it starts at 10:30 a.m., and I'll be stuck in Morton Grove for training then - fuck, why can't they do these things at night?

http://www.tenthdems.org/index.php/9

I left that area in 1977 -- all pukes, doubt if it changed unless Chicago moved southwest.

Well Obama did win 66% of the vote, but of course he was running against Alan Keyes. That is impressive still. The article said that Obama picked Lockport because it's located in the fastest growing county in the state and one of the fastest growing in the country. Either a decent amount of Democrats are moving in, or you have a lot of Republicans voting for Obama, certainly not unheard of.

Will County in general, including Lockport, is growing thanks to a lot of Chicago transplants, which is changing out demographic slowly but surely. The Will County Democratic party changed DRAMATICALLY between 2000-2004... in 2000 and 2002 we were running the election headquarters from a small rented home and got virtually no volunteers. This election we had so many volunteers we had no room in the huge rented space downtown Joliet. It's a wonderful thing.

But lest I give the wrong impression - yes, Will County is still very republican.