Obama to pick up Election Day rally tab

CHICAGO, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The presidential campaign of Barack Obama said it will pick up the tab for an outdoor rally in Chicago's Grant Park on Election Day.

The Secret Service pays for nearly all the security around the Democratic presidential nominee, but the city and state likely would bill the campaign for items such as street closures, crowd control, motorcade assistance and overtime for public safety employees, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

"They have assured us that they're willing to pay," said Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications spokeswoman Jennifer Martinez. "We're still outlining what some of these things will entail."

Obama spokesman Justin DeJong said the campaign would pay for the permit fee to rent the park and is making arrangements to clean up the park after the event "to assure that city resources are not used." In addition, the campaign will pay for "substantial" private security and emergency medical services personnel, the spokesman said.

Earlier this week, the Obama campaign said it would charge the media $715 to $1,815 for credentials to cover the event.