CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (jeh-NOO'-lee-ehs) got a nod from President Barack Obama who called the Democrat a "soon to be senator" during a stop in Quincy.
Giannoulias is running for Obama's old U.S. Senate seat and his campaign is trying to regain momentum after failure, last week, of his family's Broadway Bank.
Giannoulias was invited to Obama's Wednesday rally along with other Illinois officials.
The president spent two days in the Midwest as part of his "White House to Main Street" tour.
Giannoulias said earlier in the day he was excited to have the White House's support in his bid against Republican Congressman Mark Kirk.
The White House has said Obama intends to help Democrats in Illinois up and down the ticket during the fall campaign.
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