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Governor's Day still set for Wednesday at state fair

Posted August 12, 2007 11:00 pm

Bernard Schoenburg

Following tradition, there will be a Governor's Day rally at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday.

"It's definitely happening," said Doug Scofield, a spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagoevich's campaign.

He said the program is set to begin at 1 p.m. at the Director's Lawn, though some details, such as who will be the emcee, have not yet been worked out.

In most recent years, the Democratic Party of Illinois organized an afternoon rally at the Director's Lawn at the fair. But last year, Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign, in the midst of his successful run for re-election, produced the event and brought in 60 busloads of people from across the state.

This year, however, the spring legislative session has turned into an acrimonious summer session marked by infighting among Democrats. As a result, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, who chairs the Democratic Party of Illinois, asked last week that the governor's campaign organize a rally if it wants one.

"I believe that our party's leaders and rank-and-file members agree that you and your staff did a superb job," Madigan wrote in the Aug. 8 letter to Blagojevich at his Chicago campaign headquarters.

"As chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, I would like to call upon you and your excellent staff to once again help Illinois Democrats shine on our special day at the State Fair. It would be a great help to our party if you could take charge of Governor's Day 2007."

"I think the speaker asked the governor to be in charge at a late date, but it's going to proceed as it always does," Scofield said Monday.

The campaign will pay for the event, Scofield said, adding that he wasn't aware of any plans for buses to bring in supporters.

He also said he wasn't worried about a good showing.

"Everybody's been invited, and I think there are confirmations from a good number of people," he said.

Tammy Gray, manager of Johnny's restaurant at King Pin Lanes, the Springfield business that has the food concession at the fair's Director's Lawn, said she has solid orders for a 1,000-person lunch on Republican Day, which is Thursday.

But she said it is getting late to plan any food service for Governor's Day on Wednesday. She said a woman called a few days ago asking that 800 hot dogs and 10 kegs of beer be provided Wednesday, but when Gray asked for more information, the woman said she would have to call back. She had not done so as of Monday, Gray said.

The Illinois Democratic County Chairman's Association, headed by John Gianulis of Rock Island County, will have its traditional brunch at the Crowne Plaza hotel. The $35-per-person morning event is expected to feature speeches from top Democrats, including Blagojevich. Gianulis said both U.S. senators from Illinois, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama, will be unable to attend.

Democrats will have a state central committee meeting in Springfield Wednesday, with an endorsement of Obama for president the expected business.

Democratic county chairman also have been invited to the Executive Mansion for a reception this (Tuesday) evening, Scofield said.

On Thursday, Republican events include a county chairmen's association/state central committee breakfast at the Crowne Plaza, a state central committee meeting, a presidential straw poll at the Director's Lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., luncheon speakers at noon, and presidential speakers at 1 p.m. Straw poll results will be announced starting at 4:30 p.m.

Bernard Schoenburg can be reached at 788-1540 or bernard.schoenburg@sj-r.com.

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