Exciting news out of Illinois. Former Deputy Illinois Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi will launch his campaign for Illinois State Comptroller with events in Chicago and Peoria on Sunday and Monday. The full press release is below. Before announcing though, Krishnamoorthi made a quick pitstop to visit his old friend in the White House.

From the Peoria Journal Star:

Presidential approval

A chance encounter 10 years ago morphed into a long-term friendship and on July 31 landed a Peoria native in the Oval Office.

Raja Krishnamoorthi served as a volunteer adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Before that, he was a senior adviser in his general election campaign for Senate and even before that worked on Obama's 2000 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Now, Krishnamoorthi is working on his own campaign - for Illinois comptroller. He requested a brief meet up with Obama. He got it.

Krishnamoorthi said mostly the two chatted it up about his family, wife and kids.

"I was overwhelmed by the moment. He was just such a personable, affable individual," Krishnamoorthi said.

"For all the trappings of the office, he is still Barack Obama, the guy who got elected to the state Senate, U.S. Senate and then presidency. He is the same individual," he said.

Obama did inquire about his campaign and was happy to learn of the Richwoods grad's plans.

A presidential endorsement isn't likely in the cards, but Krishnamoorthi points out that he now shares many of Obama's supporters, some of his team members, media advisers and pollsters.

Krishnamoorthi wouldn't discuss specifics of the private, 15- to 20-minute conversation, but shared, in general terms, Obama's words of wisdom.

"You have to campaign in all parts of the state. You have to address the substance of the office. It's not just a popularity contest. You have to do this honorably. And we will," Krishnamoorthi said.

And now the press release:

Former Deputy Illinois Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi (first name pronounced RA-JA; last name pronounced KRISH-NUH-MOOR-THEE) will launch his campaign for Illinois State Comptroller at events in Chicago and Peoria on Sunday and Monday, August 23 and 24, respectively. 

Chicago Campaign Launch Announcement

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009

Place: Hotel Allegro, 171 West Randolph Street in downtown Chicago

Peoria Campaign Launch Announcement

Time: 4:45 p.m.

Date: Monday, August 24, 2009

Place: Raja’s boyhood home, 6412 North Brookwood Lane in Peoria

(Idyllbrook neighborhood near Allen Road and Northmoor Road)

As Deputy Treasurer of Illinois, Krishnamoorthi helped bring significant reforms and oversaw the custody and administration of billions of dollars in state funds without scandal or favoritism. Previously, Krishnamoorthi served as a Special Assistant Attorney General, helping to establish an anti-corruption unit. As a board member and audit committee chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, he helped thousands of Illinois families find affordable housing.

A lawyer and policy expert, Krishnamoorthi worked on President Barack Obama’s successful 2004 campaign for the U.S. Senate, serving first as issues director and then as a senior adviser. Krishnamoorthi also advised Obama during his presidential campaign and his 2000 congressional campaign.

Krishnamoorthi was a valedictorian at Richwoods High School in Peoria.  With the help of financial aid, Krishnamoorthi attended and graduated with honors from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.  He is married to Priya, a doctor, and they have two young sons. The family lives in Hoffman Estates, a suburb of Chicago.

For more information regarding Raja Krishnamoorthi and his campaign, please visit www.rajaforillinois.com.

With John Chiang serving as the Comptroller for the State of California and John Liu running for that position in New York City, the position of Comptroller could be the go-to for AAPI's!