ILLINOIS 20 Electoral Votes 
link to clickable map


During the last seven months of the campaign (April 10, 2012 to Nov. 6, 2012 >), President Obama made a half dozen trips home, the First Lady made some solo visits and Vice President Biden visited a few times.  On the Republican side former Gov. Romney made four visits, mostly doing fundraising.

THE DEMOCRATS
President Barack Obama
November 6
Chicago, IL...
    OTR at OFA field office at Harper Ave. and Hyde Park Blvd., greets volunteers and makes six calls to volunteers in Wisconsin to thank them.
Radio and TV interviews from The Fairmont Hotel.
*Election night watch party at McCormick Place, Lakeside Center.

October 25
  ...two-day, non-stop “America Forward!” tour:
-President Obama votes early at the Martin Luther King Community Center in Chicago, IL.
    OTR stop by a local OFA office, greets volunteers and staffers, calls a campaign volunteer in Iowa, in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL.

August 11-12
August 11
  To Chicago in the afternoon.
-Almost three hours at campaign headquarters.
-Dinner with friends at Piccolo Sogno restaurant in the River North neighborhood.
August 12  Five fundraisers in Chicago, IL:
-Fundraiser at the Sheraton Chicago (25 people, $40,000 per person). ($)
-Fundraising reception at the Bridgeport Art Center (Gen 44 event 1,000 people, $51 per person). ($)
-Fundraiser at his home (100 people, $40,000 per person). ($)
-Fundraiser at the home of Marty Nesbitt (200 people, $5,000 per person). ($)
-Fundraiser at the home of Barbara Bowman, mother of Valerie Jarrett (400 people, $1,000 per person). ($)
Overnight in Chicago, IL.

June 15-17
June 15 - Overnight in Chicago, IL.
June 16 - Chicago, no public events.
June 17 - Chicago, no public events.  evening flight to Los Cabos, Mexico

June 1-2
June 1
-Fundraiser at the Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago, IL (350 people, $2,500 per person). ($)
-Fundraiser at the home of attorney Chaka Patterson in the South Loop area, Chicago, IL (about 50 people). ($)
-Fundraiser at the home of Jim Crown, president of Henry Crown and Company (investment company), and Paula Crown in the Gold Coast neighborhood, Chicago, IL (about 50 people/$35,800 per person). ($)
Overnight at his home in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL (first time since April 2011).
June 2 - In his Hyde Park neighborhood Obama and Valerie Jarrett walk about four blocks to the home of his friend Marty Nesbitt for a visit, in Chicago, IL.

May 20-21
May 20 - Hosts the NATO Summit at McCormick Place, photo and working dinner at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.
Overnight in Chicago, IL.
May 21 - Continues hosting the NATO Summit at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

First Lady Michelle Obama solo
October 30
Chicago, no public events

September 27
-Tapes Steve Harvey, a daytime show (to air Oct. 3) at NBC Tower in Chicago, IL.
-Fundraising reception at Harpo Studios in Chicago, IL. ($)
-LGBT fundraising reception at the home of Fred Eychaner in Chicago, IL. ($)

June 26

-Women for Obama "Lunch with the First Lady and Lynch" (actress Jane Lynch) fundraiser at the Standard Club in Chicago, IL (530 people, $250 per person). ($)
-Joins Illinois Governor Pat Quinn as he signs into law the “Military Family Licensing Act” at the Illinois National Guard Armory (Donnelly Building) in Chicago, IL.
-Gen 44 fundraising reception at Venue One in Chicago, IL (375 people). ($)

May 20
-NATO leaders' spouses tour at Gary Comer Youth Center, and private dinner at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL.

Vice President Joe Biden
November 6

*The Bidens attend the election night watch party at McCormick Place, Lakeside Center in Chicago, IL.
Overnight in Chicago, IL.

July 30 - Fundraiser with trial lawyers gathered for the American Association of Justice convention at the Chicago Hilton and Towers in Chicago, IL ($500 per person). ($)

June 25 - Fundraiser at the home of Judy Wise in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL. ($)

June 18 - With Jill Biden, fundraising luncheon at Chicago Cut Steakhouse in Chicago, IL. ($)


THE REPUBLICANS
Former Gov. Mitt Romney
September 10

-Fundraiser at the home of Reeve Waud, founder and managing partner of Waud Capital Partners (private equity firm), in Lake Forest, IL [Lake County, north of Chicago]. ($)

August 7
-Event at Acme Industries in Elk Grove Village, IL [Chicago area]. 
-Lunch roundtable fundraiser at Harry Caray's in Chicago, IL. ($)
-Fundraiser at Maggiano's in Chicago, IL. ($)

June 14 - Fundraiser at Pump Room (a restaurant at the Public Chicago hotel) in Chicago, IL. ($)

May 15 - Fundraising dinner at the home of Aon plc (insurance) founder Pat and Shirley Ryan in Winnetka, IL. ($)

Rep. Paul Ryan
October 7 - Brunch reception and fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL.


Visits by third party candidates after their nominating conventions.
MULTIPLE
October 23 Gary Johnson, Jill Stein, Virgil Goode and Rocky Anderson
-Free & Equal Elections Foundation Presidential Debate at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, IL. (+)


THE LIBERTARIANS

September 12 Jim Gray
-Dinner, Drinks & Discussion at Boston Blackie's in Chicago, IL.

September 19 Gary Johnson
-On college tour, appears at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.


THE GREENS
September 12-13 Jill Stein
September 12
-Evening event with Nancy Wade, Green candidate for Congress 5th CD, at The Grafton, an Irish pub and restaurant in Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL.
September 13
-Stop at Tobies Restaturant in Hinkley, MN, Kirby Student Center Lounge at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, MN.
canceled to join striking Chicago teachers:
-Pickets with Chicago teachers outside Lane Tech High in Chicago, IL.
-Pickets with Chicago teachers outside Amundsen High School in Chicago, IL.