Obama plans election-night Chicago rally

CHICAGO, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said Friday an election night rally for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama will cost $2 million.

Daley told reporters the campaign, not the city, is picking up the tab for the outdoor rally in Grant Park, the Chicago Tribune reported. The mayor said he would have preferred an indoor event at the United Center but did not feel in a position to argue with the junior senator from Illinois.

"Could you see me saying no to Senator Obama?" Daley said. "Give me a break. I'm not that dumb."

Hotels, restaurants and bars are looking forward to packed houses, WBBM-TV CBS2 reported. The manager of the Blackstone Hotel said all rooms are reserved for election night and the main restaurant has been booked for a private party.

Many of the hotel rooms have been scooped up by out-of-town reporters and news crews, from Europe and Asia as well as the United States.

"Once the polls close we'll have extra bartenders on," Peter deCaspro of Tavern on the Park told CBS2. "I think they'll be a pretty happy mood assuming it's the results that all of Chicago wants."