Illinois gains 'a friend in the White House'

It's certainly not a bad thing to have a poker buddy in the White House, but Illinois leaders don't expect President-elect Barack Obama will open the nation's checkbook for his home state.

"It will mean a friend in the White House but I don't think it'll mean carte blanche for Illinois," said Illinois state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat and former Obama colleague and poker pal in Springfield.

But across the state, civic, business and government leaders do think Illinois will benefit from an Obama presidency.

For starters, they say his popularity abroad could help boost Chicago's chances for the 2016 Olympics, for which Obama is already a key supporter.

"In 2016, I'll be wrapping up my second term as president, so I can't think of a better way than to be marching into Washington Park - as President of the United States, and announcing to the world, 'Let the games begin,'" Obama said this summer when he dropped in on a Chicago Olympics rally.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has said Obama's urban background makes him sensitive to the issues of metropolitan life, which could result in transportation, education, environmental and other policies that help the suburbs as well as Chicago.

"It's a good perspective - for the federal government, which is much more rural in its history," Daley told reporters this summer.

It could mean a friendly administration when it comes to the federal waivers Illinois routinely seeks for everything from health care programs to what kind of gasoline is required in parts of the state at certain times of the year.

There's also likely to be numerous job opportunities for Illinoisans within an Obama administration.

But it's difficult to put a price tag on what having Obama in the White House will mean for Illinois.

Political observers note that Obama - along with Republican rival John McCain - came out against the budgetary earmark process that loads federal spending with lawmakers' pet pork projects.

"We can no longer accept a process that doles out earmarks based on a member of Congress' seniority, rather than the merit of the project," Obama said in March.

The president-elect now gets to enforce those views with a seniority-laden Illinois congressional delegation that includes the second-ranking U.S. Senate Democrat in Springfield's Dick Durbin and several key Democratic House members.

Even Daley urged patience Tuesday.

Plus, Obama's dealings with Illinois are likely to face a great deal of scrutiny as the state does not enjoy a sterling reputation for its political business.

But Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jerry Roper said there'll be an intangible benefit from Obama, much like the attention Chicago received during Michael Jordan's tenure with the Bulls.

Roper's issue is whether Illinois is ready to seize this opportunity.

"Illinois has to get its act together," Roper said of the gridlock in state government.