Mehan Jayasuriya

Just outside the Hilton's Grand Ballroom, Chicago's affluent Democratic supporters sip wine and shake each other's hands. It's after 7pm when a man in a tuxedo begins to sound dinner bells. Very slowly they filter into the ballroom, leaving a trail of empty bottles and glasses in their wake.

Inside, a man jokes with the woman to his left, "I'm with the Secret Service, that's why I'm sitting here," while a real Secret Service agent shoots him a disapproving glance. A longhaired crooner with dangly earrings belts out "Dancing in the Street" from the balcony, ignored by those below despite the volume of his performance. You wouldn't know it is a Kerry-Edwards fundraiser until the entrance music of Coldplay's "Clocks" begins to blare over the speakers and John Edwards enters the room, sitting down to dine at the table of honor.

Penny Pritzker is the first to appear at the podium, declaring, "this turnout is a real testimony to what a fantastic city we live in!" before introducing the night's most well-received guest. Having just been announced as the keynote speaker for this year's Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama is treated with three standing ovations during the short program. He opens with a denunciation of the current administration, aligning himself with "a middle class that has seen the ladders to success erode." His job, however, is to get the crowd pumped for Edwards, which he accomplishes with the greatest of ease. "We know from where they've been what they're going to do," he remarks before excitedly declaring, "They've got this state on lock-down!" In comparison, Mayor Daley seems lethargic, pausing before words and hunching over the microphone. He praises Edwards, the self-made man who "never let his background limit his dreams." By the end, he's worked up enough momentum to borrow Obama's technique; "John, you won't have to worry about Illinois--this is our worry!" he yells as he points to himself.

By the time Edwards finally hits the stage, the pins are lined up. All that's left to do is knock `em down. "You know how we always say this is the most important election of our lifetime?" he asks. "Well, this time it's true." He quickly makes sure to fill the void of praise for his running mate, gushing, "I saw John Kerry touching people in ways I've never seen in my life." From here he launches into that staple of presidential campaigning: the promise. "When John Kerry is president, every day that he is in the White House, he will tell the American people the truth." Outside, a fundraiser sells buttons with slogans like "All the way JFK."

(2004-07-21)

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