CARBONDALE - Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich hopes those attending the Du Quoin State Fair this year will consider stopping by her booth to donate blood.

Blagojevich is once again teaming up with the American Red Cross and pushing to surpass the 69 pints of blood they collected at the fair in 2007. The drive will take place over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, at the first lady's booth located in front of the grandstand at the fairground. Every bit counts, she said. Even the 69 pints they collected last year is enough to save 207 lives.

The first lady discussed the blood drive and other events that would be taking place in her booth during a phone conversation Monday with The Southern. Participants can sign up in advance at the American Red Cross Web site, but walk-in donors also will be welcomed during the fair.

Listen to the full conversation here

The fair is a good place to solicit donors, she said, because it gets the word out about the need to maintain local blood supplies at a time when people give less attention to the subject.

"Schools are closed, people are traveling and they just don't think about giving blood," Blagojevich said. "Unfortunately, that's the time of year when hospitals often have more of a need for it � there seem to be more accidents in the summertime."

Blagojevich said she's going to try to give blood when the family is in town for the fair later this month. However, she added, the governor's usual visit length may be interrupted in part by his trip to Denver and the Democratic National Convention, which begins Aug. 25.

Blagojevich said her husband intends to go to the convention to throw his support behind U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Prospects for Obama to win the general election this November look good, Blagojevich said, which would leave an open Senate seat for her husband to fill.

Filling the spot could be done by the governor appointing someone or even appointing himself to the post.

The First Lady didn't indicate her husband would appoint himself to the Senate, as has been speculated.

"I don't know; I don't think so," she said. "I think he's been asked that question before, and his response is they're taking applications."

caleb.hale@thesouthern.com / 351-5090

First Lady's Booth, 2008 Du Quoin State Fair

Other events and displays scheduled are:

l Information about Illinois Great Rivers

l IDOT information on child safety seats

l Wildflower seed packets for state highway beautification project

l Child abuse prevention from DCFS

l 'Ask Before You Eat' food allergy initiative

l Health information from Illinois Department of Women's Health