Illinois officials take turns at convention podium

DENVER -- Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias highlighted an evening of spotlight speeches by Illinois officials, using his moment at the podium not only to tout Barack Obama's presidential bid also to go after Republicans.

Giannoulias, Obama's 32-year-old basketball and political pal, accused the Bush administration of eight years of "betrayal" during a speech that stretched just over three minutes.

"Leadership is not defined by mistrust and neglect," Giannoulias said. "The time is now. It's time for a fresh start."

As a contrast, he offered Obama's life story, one of immigrant parents striving to make life better for their children.

"His story is our story, your story, my story. It's the American story," Giannoulias, the son of Greek immigrants said. "Whether your story begins in a small Greek village, on the plains of Kansas or the streets of Chicago, we're all Americans."

State Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Obama's former seatmate in the Illinois Senate, offered testimony as to Obama's strength on women's issues.

"We need a president who knows how to remove the obstacles that stand between parents and their dreams for their children," Madigan said in a roughly two-minute speech.

Given a similar stint at the podium, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes talked of his 2004 U.S. Senate primary loss to Obama.

"I had a few advantages, but I lacked the most important one of all - I wasn't Barack Obama," Hynes said.

Other Illinois figures speaking at the convention Monday included Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., union leader Tom Balanoff and Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle. Michelle Obama was Monday's headliner.