How Chicago's Toni Preckwinkle Sat With Bill Clinton At The DNC

By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Jul 26, 2016 3:00PM

Everyone is buzzing about Michelle Obama's graceful eviscerating of Donald Trump during the first night of the Democratic National Convention Monday, but here in Chicago that buzz extended to another local leading lady—Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle—and her surprisingly prime seat next to former President Bill Clinton during the first lady's speech.

Preckwinkle's camera-ready positioning meant she got plenty of screen time as the DNC coverage repeatedly cut to the potential future First Gentleman (if he wasn't a former president, would that be his official title?) for reactions throughout Mrs. Obama's speech, an occurrence that was not lost on Chicago politics junkies. In a column Tuesday morning, the Tribune's John Kass suggested the high-profile seating arrangement was as good as the Clintons promising Preckwinkle the Chicago mayorship in 2019. It's already been noted that Mayor Rahm Emanuel was not invited to speak at the DNC this year, even though several other liberal mayors were.

Preckwinkle, for her part, dismissed the appearance as anything more than an honor. The board president told WGN Tuesday morning that she met Clinton on Election Day and he was in her ward and in her precinct. The invitation to sit with him apparently came about over the weekend when the Clinton team reached out to Preckwinkle, according to a tweet by WBEZ's Lauren Chooljian.

Alright guys:Preckwinkle says the Clinton camp reached out to her over the weekend about sitting with Pres Bill Clinton during FLOTUS speech

— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) July 26, 2016

"[Bill Clinton] was clearly moved by [Michelle Obama's] speech, her praise for Secretary Clinton and her willingness to take on Donald Trump and remind the Bernie Sanders delegates of the importance of unity and talking about what Hillary did when she lost in 2008," Preckwinkle told WGN.

Preckwinkle also said she's looking forward to hearing her seat buddy's speech at the convention Tuesday night.

"At the last convention he gave one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard in my life," Preckwinkle said.

Are we sensing a budding political friendship? Only time will tell.

We reached out to Preckwinkle's office for comment and will update when we hear back.