McCain in suburbs sends message

Chicago area politicians and voters jumped on the Straight Talk Express bandwagon Friday as John McCain brought his presidential campaign to the suburbs.

Office holders, families and veterans gave new life by rallying behind McCain's candidacy after his victories in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida.

So at a rally at the Odeum Sports & Expo Center in Villa Park, hundreds of supporters chanted "Mac is Back!" as McCain arrived with his wife, Cindy.

As at a subsequent appearance before almost 1,000 people at the annual Lincoln Day dinner for DuPage County Republicans at Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook Terrace, tough talk on Iraq formed the thrust of McCain's speech and won the loudest cheers.

"I will never set a date for withdrawal or a date for surrender," he said. "If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden, and I will bring him to justice."

McCain anticipated victory Tuesday, when primaries in more than 20 states make it as close to a national primary election as the nation has ever seen.

"We may be able to wrap it up next Tuesday," he said. "The first thing we have to do after Tuesday is unite this party."

But divisions remained. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced he'll appear at a rally at noon Sunday at Tellabs in Naperville.

Romney is hoping for the same kind of comeback McCain made, said his DuPage coordinator, Liz Martinez.

Amid an economic downturn, she said, suburban voters will be looking for someone with Romney's business and financial expertise.

Even supporters of McCain said he still has to come through on economic issues and immigration. Many conservatives oppose his proposal to allow a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

McCain got endorsements this week from former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and his former supporters in Illinois, such as former Govs. Jim Edgar and Jim Thompson, and DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett.

"It's pretty clear things are breaking toward McCain," Birkett said. After being bypassed by most candidates, he added, Illinois is finally getting more attention because it has a lot of delegates.

State party Chairman Andy McKenna hoped the newfound attention will energize voters.

"We wanted a contested primary to generate interest among Republicans," he said. "As a party, we need to reach out to new voters."

Visit: Romney coming Sunday to Naperville