Hundreds fill Vernon Hills gym to see Vice President Joe Biden
Vernon Hills resident T.J. Marciniak was so excited to see Vice President Joe Biden speak Wednesday in his hometown, he got to the Sullivan Community Center more than three hours before the doors opened to ensure a good spot in the audience.
"It's not something that happens every day," said Marciniak, who was joined by his brother and a friend. "We wanted to be up front and center."
An estimated 750 people packed the Sullivan Center's gym Wednesday afternoon for Biden's appearance, part of a rally for three Democrats on the Nov. 4 ballot: U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Paul Vallas, who's running for lieutenant governor as Gov. Pat Quinn's mate.
It was the vice president's first visit to Lake County since taking office.
Round Lake resident Sara Madlock Coleman was one of the first people outside the Sullivan Center on Wednesday, too.
She was accompanied by her mother, Cynthia Madlock, and her 11-year-old daughter, Cyndi.
"I wanted to show her how the system works," she said of Cyndi, a sixth grader at Big Hollow Middle School. "I wanted her to have an idea of the issues going on."
Libertyville residents Greg and Karen Drecoll also attended the rally.
"You don't very often get to see the vice president of the United States," Greg Drecoll said.
It's not the couple's first brush with Washington elite. Decades ago, they were in New York City and saw then-President Richard Nixon's motorcade drive by.
"I was never a fan, but it was still a thrill to see a president," Drecoll said.
The Secret Service and suburban police departments provided security at the event, limiting traffic on Aspen Drive and checking vehicles and people for potential threats.
Crews from the local Countryside Fire Protection District were on hand for any emergencies.
When a woman near the stage became ill during Biden's remarks, they quickly took her outside for a health evaluation.
"It's very exciting and truly an honor for us to serve and protect the vice president," Chief Jeff Steingart said.
The Vernon Hills venue was chosen to highlight Schneider's campaign. It's in the 10th Congressional District, where Schneider - a freshman lawmaker from Deerfield - is running a tight re-election race against Republican challenger Robert Dold of Kenilworth.
Dold spent part of Wednesday making calls to potential voters at his headquarters in Libertyville, a campaign spokeswoman said. He also walked and talked with people in Buffalo Grove, Libertyville and Northbrook and did some interviews, the spokeswoman said.