WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Illinois Democrats are headed home after a week of politicking at their party’s national convention in North Carolina, but their work for the 2012 elections is just heating up.

Writer Megan Stielstra loves fiction — except when it's applied to policy decisions that affect her body. 

Some Illinois delegates who saw President Obama’s political rise first-hand were also there to witness his acceptance speech Thursday night.

His re-election in doubt, President Barack Obama conceded only halting progress Thursday night toward fixing the nation's stubborn economic woes, but vowed in a Democratic National Convention finale, "Our problems can be solved, our challenges can be met."

The Illinois’ delegation was seated front and center on the convention floor, waving blue signs that read “Forward” during the president's speech.

Elizabeth McClancy lives in eastern North Carolina, so she was pretty excited when the convention came to Charlotte, just a few hours away. She’s been painting portraits of Democratic leaders since 2006.

Two of Illinois' Democratic delegates say the issue isn’t just political. It's personal.