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Democrats applaud Obama

Local supporters of U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama gathered in Mugsy McGuire's Tuesday night to show their support as he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Obama is the first state legislator in the history of the party to deliver the convention's keynote address.

In a speech lasting about 20 minutes, Obama criticized the policies of President Bush, referring to his administration as a "long political darkness" and declared Democratic nominee John Kerry a leader "who embodies the best this country has to offer."

Jillian Pyle of Du Quoin was glad for the opportunity to hear Obama speak, having recently returned from two years in San Antonio.

"They're big W fans down there," she said.

Just a few feet away, a self-identified Democrat confessed that he didn't know much about Obama. Brian Kesler of Herrin said he was just there for the pool league.

"Not too many people I know are politically vocal," Kesler said.

He said he planned to vote for Kerry.

Obama's speech repeatedly drew applause from supporters in the bar.

"We can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and...our votes will be counted - or at least, most of the time," Obama said.

Delegates at the convention, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, gave a standing ovation while the patrons at Mugsy's applauded loudly from their seats at this reference to the 2000 Presidential election.

John Clemons, former Jackson County State's Attorney and a Southern Illinois coordinator of volunteers for Obama's Senate campaign, said Obama has made great progress in a short time.

"It got a little lonely during the primary," Clemons said. "Nobody knew who he was."

Clemons said Jackson County was the only county in Southern Illinois that Obama carried and attributes that more to a lack of recognition than a lack of support.

"He has a real cross section of support," Clemons said. "It wasn't just the black vote, and it wasn't just liberal Democrats."

Obama is currently running unopposed for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. His opponent, Jack Ryan, withdrew from the race in the midst of a gathering scandal over allegations in his divorce records that he visited sex clubs with his ex-wife.

The GOP has yet to field a replacement, although numerous names have been floated, including former Gov. Jim Edgar and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka.

Sharad Kumar, an intern with the Obama Senate campaign, spoke enthusiastically about Obama's career as a Senator as he set up a conference call that would allow Obama to directly address his supporters nationwide Tuesday evening.

"I think it's great that Illinois will be the only state with African American representation [in the U.S. Senate]," Kumar said.