Chicagoans to tell Obama's story at Democratic Convention

[BlueJessamine]

Source: Chicago Sun Times

WASHINGTON -- When Alexi Giannoulias was an undergraduate at the University of Chicago in the mid-1990s, one of the guys he would play pick-up basketball games with in Hyde Park was Barack Obama, who taught at the U. of C. law school.

Now Giannoulias is the Illinois state treasurer and Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee. Obama has been "like a mentor to me," Giannoulias told me. He will be one of the parade of Chicagoans who will speak at the Democratic convention Monday night, when Obama's family and friends tell the story of Obama's life.

Michelle Obama is Monday's prime time speaker, and she will be introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson, who grew up with her on Chicago's South Side.

"I want people throughout the country to know the Barack Obama I know," said Giannoulias. Giannoulias --who won a tough primary with Obama's endorsement -- is a surrogate -- stumping in half dozen states; a major fund-raiser, on Obama's National Finance Committee, which means collecting at least $250,000 and a primary day basketball buddy.



Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/1114382,CST-NWS-sweet19.article

---

The article continues with other Illinoisans speaking in Denver.

[Radical Activist]

1. This will give Alexi a boost.

He's considered a rising star in Illinois' fractured Democratic Party.

[stillcool]

2. reminds me of this article..

Barack Obama’s Law Review Colleagues: Where Are They Now?
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/us/politics/20070128_OBAMA.html