Buttigieg, Johnson rally Illinois Democrats at DNC

Bleary-eyed Illinois Democrats got a jolt of energy from high-profile visitors at the state delegation breakfast meeting Wednesday.

Why it matters: As the Democratic National Convention roars to the finish line, popular Democrats are appearing at state delegation meetings to drum up energy and support for the election, just 75 days away.

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The big picture: Wednesday's Illinois delegation breakfast featured big hitters like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

What they're saying: "We have to maintain the mentality of an underdog every step of the way," Buttigieg said.

• "The American people agree with us on the issues that matter most in their lives."

The intrigue: Johnson had been noticeably absent from the Illinois morning meetings, instead hitting up other states' breakfast gatherings, speaking in front of the Florida, Mississippi and Wisconsin delegations.

Mayor Brandon Johnson addresses Illinois Democrats during a breakfast meeting Wednesday morning. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios

Flashback: Buttigieg and Johnson spent parts of their speeches talking about how Illinois Democrats helped launch their political careers.

• Buttigieg thanked Sen. Dick Durbin for inviting him to speak in Springfield three years ago.
• "He (Durbin) must have really been panicking, because he had to get all the way down the list to get to the mayor of South Bend," Buttigieg joked.
• Johnson heaped praise on Illinois Senate President Don Harmon for first hiring him to work as a director of constituent services for $10 an hour.

Zoom in: The mayor gave a more subdued speech due to his raspy voice, worn out from his convention duties.

• He did show off his some of his oratory skills with a rousing end to the speech about giving politics back to the people.

Yes, but: Johnson may have forgotten whom he was addressing, starting his remarks with how Chicago is the "greatest freakin' city in the world," a line he used in his DNC speech Monday night.

• He also repeated his joke he was roasted for on social media earlier this week, comparing Republicans to Olympic break dancers.

The bottom line: Sleep-deprived Illinois Democrats need all the motivation they can get to rush to the finish line in the 2024 election.

What's next : This morning the Illinois delegation welcomes Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Comptroller Susana Mendoza.

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