Political Parties Hold Election-Eve Rallies
CHICAGO (CBS) -- While Illinois Democrats tried to keep the torch lit for their embattled party in Chicago, Republicans concentrated on their base in the western suburbs on the eve of a tight, potentially historic election.
Chicago Democrats used to have torchlight parades right before elections. A rally Monday evening outside Gov. Pat Quinn's River North headquarters stayed in one place, but it was the same message: Vote Democratic.
The rally drew a couple hundred people, CBS 2's Jim Williams reports. Union officials promised to get out the vote as Quinn said he has created jobs since taking office early last year.
Meanwhile, GOP candidates for state and federal office gathered at a rally at the Wheaton Bowl. They said the election-eve gathering there was different from previous years. The Republicans were hoping that a national backlash against Democrats would rub off in President Obama's home state.
"The Republicans are as unified as I've ever seen our party," state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, told CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman.
Also in attendance was Congressman Mark Kirk, who is running for U.S. Senate. Earlier Monday, his Democratic opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, was reaching out to young voters who attend DePaul University.
It was all hugs, smiles and photo requests -- a contrast with the endless attacks in his and all the other campaign TV commercials.
"The good news for voters is, starting tomorrow there'll be no more negative ads, none of these atrocious ads for people to look at," Giannoulias quipped.
