Rutherford: Romney to Conduct ‘Downstate, Urban’ Campaign in Illinois

Following mixed results on Super Tuesday, the chairman of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in Illinois expects the candidate to visit the state soon.

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford said national staff members for the former Massachusetts governor were expected in the state over the weekend.

Rutherford said it is exciting that Illinois could play a role in deciding the next Republican presidential nominee

"This is all right now about delegates," he said. "Mitt Romney has a significant foothold and advantage over the others, and Illinois is a big player in it, and we'll continue to work towards that come Tuesday, March 20."

Speaking at a Republican dinner in Pontiac over the weekend, Rutherford expected that Romney's competitors would make a stop in Illinois as well.

Meanwhile, changes made by the Republican National Committee are meant to allow the presidential nominating process to continue past the early states. Rutherford said those adjustments were also made to avoid early winner-take-all. But he questions whether the tactics hurt party unity.

"I'm not sure it was a good decision, in fact, I think it was probably not the best decision because right now, we're starting to beat each other up and eat our own," Rutherford said. "The debate lines are going to be used by Barack (Obama's) campaign to go against whoever the eventual nominee is."

Rutherford's prediction about Illinois presidential campaigns appears to hold true for one of the GOP candidates. Ron Paul's Illinois campaign site has announced the Texas congressman will make a stop at the University of Illinois' Urbana campus Wednesday night. He is scheduled to be at the U of I's Foellinger Auditorium at 7 p.m.

(Photo by Jeff Bossert/WILL)