Daley, Union president strive to inspire Illinois delegation

DENVER - With Gov. Rod Blagojevich set to arrive at the Democratic convention today, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley made a plea to party officials to leave their internal battles in Illinois.

"We have to remind ourselves we are cheerleaders for Barack Obama," Daley said in closing this morning's delegate breakfast. "I know there is issues in Springfield, Cook County, Chicago, Washington, D.C., United Nations. Those issues will be decided after this convention. Lets keep everything out of this convention."

The plea comes as Illinois Democrats struggle to show a unified force as Obama takes the party's presidential nomination.

Yet, Blagojevich used the first day of the convention, Monday, back in Chicago to toss barbs at lawmakers as he rewrote legislation aimed at campaign finance reform. That drew wide criticism from lawmakers, but little reaction from Daley, Comptroller Dan Hynes, Senate President Emil Jones Jr. or House Speaker Michael Madigan

Blagojevich is expected to arrive in Denver today. He is hosting a party tonight for former congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth, who now heads his veteran's department.

The Hoffman Estates Iraq war veteran is scheduled to speak at the convention Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Illinois Democrats are being urged to parachute into swing states as the presidential race heats up. Many fear the race is too close.

"Too many of our blue-collar Americans, too many of our union members, they like this guy McCain. They like him," Jerry McEntee, president of the 1.4-million member AFSCME union, told Illinois delegates. "This race is too close... We should be so far out ahead, we should be able to take a breath. But I'm telling you we can't even breathe it is so close."