Dan Hynes, Comptroller, Illinois Monday, August 25, 2008 at 05:03 PM My name is Dan Hynes, and I’m the Illinois state comptroller. Four years ago, I ran in our state’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Though I had a few advantages, I lacked the most important one of all: I wasn’t Barack Obama. I remember thinking that he was the most gifted person I’d seen in public life: smart and tough, visionary and practical. In debates, his knowledge seemed to come not just from his head, but from his heart, and he connected to people everywhere in our state by calling out to something inside of them. No one likes to lose, but it’s a lot easier when you admire the person who wins, and I did. Soon, I watched many across our nation come to know Barack as I had. And two years ago, I became the first elected official in America to publicly call on him to run for president. I did so because I was concerned for our country and I felt we needed someone extraordinary. We needed someone who could speak to that part of us that’s the best in us, the part that knows that we each can make a difference, that we all, if we’re together, can make this America we love even better. You see, Barack Obama doesn’t want us to rise above politics. He simply knows that with the right kind of politics, we can all rise up. On the night of our Senate primary, I said to him, “Congratulations, my friend.” Two years ago, I said to him, “Our country needs you.” Tonight, I say to all Americans who believe in restoring the promise of America, “Barack Obama is the change we need.”