CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner stopped by the Illinois delegation's Wednesday breakfast at Clearwater Beach.
The republican congressman from Ohio has a lot at stake, as does the democratic leader in the House Nancy Pelosi. There are five seats that the Democrats think they could pick up in Illinois.
Boehner claims that the democrats have over reached. There are certainly some tough races ahead in Illinois for the general election in November.
Illinois Democrats redrew congressional boundaries in the state last year, and there are three suburban Republicans in particular who are in jeopardy: Rep. Joe Walsh, Rep. Judy Biggert and Rep. Bob Dole.
If he wants to hold on to his speakership, John Boehner knows he's going to have to hold on to those seats in the Chicago suburbs.
New Jersey mayor Chris Christie drummed up a political fervor with his keynote speech Tuesday night.
"It's now time to stand up," Christie said. "If you're willing to stand up with me for America's future, I will stand up with you. If you're willing to fight with me for Mitt Romney, I will fight with you."
Christie considered running for the nomination himself, but months ago decided to endorse Romney. The Illinois Republicans loved everything he had to say.
They want to bring him out to the Prairie State for fund-raisers, and would love to have him come to one of their breakfasts in Clearwater. They think he's the kind of guy who could play well in the Chicago area.
Illinois Treasurer and RNC delegation leader Dan Rutherford made some comments on the floor that caused a stir Tuesday.
He talked about how he is dreaming that next January, after the swearing-in ceremony, that it's going to be Michelle and Barack Obama who step into a helicopter, taken out of Washington D.C. and brought back home.
It seems there is no love lost for President Obama in Rutherford's opinion, even though the Obamas are from Chicago. The Republicans here are hoping to unseat him, and said that Illinois Republicans have a special duty to work to get the president out since he is from their state.
