Keyes to be in Sycamore

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SYCAMORE - United States Senate hopeful Alan Keyes will make campaign stops in Sycamore on Tuesday, hoping to drum-up support for his uphill fight against Democrat Barack Obama. Keyes has promised to make controversial comments daily until the Nov. 2 election. "I'm sure he will live up to his promise," said Joe Wiegand, DeKalb County coordinator for the Keyes campaign. Keyes was a Maryland resident until he was tapped earlier this year by state Republicans to challenge Obama. He ran twice for the presidency and twice for the U.S. Senate from Maryland. Keyes will speak at a free breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. at Carls Fargo Restaurant in downtown Sycamore. People are asked to make reservations by calling (815) 522-03801 or by e-mail at wiegand@tcbnet.com, Wiegand said. The free breakfast will be "my contribution to the campaign," said Wiegand, a county board member from Fairdale. Local residents also will get a chance to "run with Alan." Keyes, a marathon runner, will run through the streets of Sycamore starting at 6:30 a.m. at the courthouse. Wiegand said he will be watching to see if party leaders attend the breakfast. Statewide GOP leaders - generally considered to be more moderate - have been lukewarm to the candidacy of Keyes, a firebrand conservative. The party organizations in DeKalb County "have in words been very supportive of Dr. Keyes," Wiegand said. "This will give them an opportunity to do so in deed." County Republicans Chair Mary Simon was unavailable for comment Friday night, but state Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley, said he was uncertain if he would be able to attend. "I'll have to check my calendar," he said. Pritchard, who defeated Wiegand in the spring primary, said he backs the Keyes candidacy "but I have had my hands full with my own race," and haven't had time to campaign for him. He said Republicans he has talked to have mixed reactions to Keyes. "Some people are very pleased with his religious values and conservative beliefs," he said. "And others are disappointed that the Republican Party had to go out of state to find a candidate. That's an issue the Keyes people will have to address."