CARBONDALE - U.S. Sen.-elect Barack Obama received what has become the usual celebrity welcome from well-wishers at the Carbondale Civic Center Friday.

Obama, the Democrat state senator from Chicago who handily defeated Alan Keyes in the election earlier this month, made Carbondale the last stop of his "Thank You, Illinois" victory tour Friday.

The junior senator-elect ran a gauntlet of handshakes, pictures and hugs, before making it to the lectern at the front of the room to address the crowd of more than 100 people.

"I'm not going to give a long speech, because you've already heard some long speeches of mine," Obama said. "Now it's time to get to work."

Obama thanked the crowd and all of his supporters for helping him go from the "long-shot" candidate in the Senate primary race to the political rock star-like fame he has seen of late.

His appearance and speech at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year sent ripples through the political world and led many pundits to predict Obama would one day be president.

The senator downplayed the national attention when asked during an impromptu news conference about any pressure he might be feeling from it.

"The only expectations I am concerned about are the ones of Illinoisans," Obama said.

He said the people who voted him into office, and even the people who didn't, expect him to work hard in Washington, D.C., to stick to the principles he touted during his campaign.

Obama addressed the idea some detractors held that he was "more liberal" than he let on during the race.

"I never understood that argument, because people had an eight-year record to go to in the state senate," he said. "I don't think I've hidden the ball. I think people understand what I believe in."

Obama said in the state Senate he has been able to work well with Republicans and said he would carry the bi-partisan nature to the U.S. Senate.

Obama, however, knows it won't be an easy road. Republicans gained the upper hand in the Senate this election, as well as in the House and with President George W. Bush's re-election.

Bush called Obama to congratulate him on his victory following the election. Obama said it should be clear he and the president don't see eye to eye on everything.

The senator-elect also address the disheartened tone of the Democrat party, following Sen. John Kerry's defeat.

"I know there are some people who are still concerned with voter irregularities," he said.

Obama said he assessed there were some problems with voting this election, just as there were in the 2000 election. Those are problems, he said, that obviously need to be fixed, so in 2008 people still are not discussing the issue.

"Having said all that, I do think George W. Bush won fair and square," Obama added.

He said now is not the time to pine over what could have been. Obama said it was time for the legislators in Congress to roll up their sleeves and get to work on a number of pressing issues facing the country.

Obama fielded a number of questions from the audience Friday, concerning health care, social security, gay marriage, medical malpractice, college affordability, the Iraqi war and tax cuts.

The new senator heads to Washington, D.C., Sunday, where he will begin his orientation.

Obama said the next couple months will be spent setting up his offices, hiring permanent staff and getting acclimated to his new position. He said he will open an office south of Springfield, and he said it will be easily accessible to those who live in Carbondale and the surrounding region.

caleb.hale@thesouthern.com 618-529-5454 x15090