Sharon Polidan, a volunteer for and friend of Mary Valentine, running for 91st District State Representative, jokes around with a cardboard cutout of Barack Obama at the Pulaski Lodge, Mary Valentine's headquarters.

Charlie Fairchild,12, has been a political volunteer "My whole life pretty much," he says, he put up signs for the Obama campaign and ran three computers on election night, keeping track of all the local elections and ballot measures at he Pulaski Lodge, Mary Valentine's headquarters.

Penny Salisz, foreground, black t-shirt, a democratic party Labor Volunteer, sits with other celebrating Democrats at the Pulaski Lodge, Mary Valentine's headquarters, to watch Barack Obama's acceptance speech from Grant Park in Chicago.