Bill Clinton to campaign here Tuesday

Former President Bill Clinton will visit the Chicago area Tuesday, one week ahead of the Illinois' Democratic primary.

The Hillary Clinton campaign is billing the speech as one that will emphasize early voting in Illinois, which is well underway. But the campaign has yet to detail where or when it will be.

Hillary Clinton grew up in Park Ridge, and the grouping of primaries March 15 - when Democrats also vote in Florida, Ohio, Missouri and North Carolina - could extend her lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Clinton and Sanders have held dueling rallies in the Chicago area in recent weeks. The state will be key for the nominee in November, as Illinois usually leans toward Democrats.

As such, Sanders has raised more than $1 million here, more than any Republican. Clinton has raised $4 million and secured the support of most of the state's party leadership.

An exception is U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski of Western Springs, who says he'll follow the will of the vote in his district.

"I hope that my decision to support the candidate a majority of my voters choose will encourage even greater participation in the Democratic primary," he said in a statement.