Gallery: Candidates Greet Voters in Crunch Time

With the Nov. 6 general election nine days away and early voting into its second week, candidates for the United States Congress and the Illinois State Senate spent the weekend meeting voters and encouraging people to cast ballots.

Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) spent much of the weekend on a bus tour of the 10th Congressional District visiting restaurants, shopping centers and other places where people congregate while his Democratic challenger, Deerfield’s Brad Schneider, motivating people at rallies to vote early.

Earlier: Dold Discards Norquist Pledge in Debate With Schneider

“Too much is at stake in this election for anyone to stay on the sidelines, and with so many opportunities for early voting, it's never been simpler for Illinois residents to cast their ballots early” Schneider said.

Dold put his emphasis on voter contact. “We’re talking to people about the issues and concerns they have in the crunch of the last 10 days,” he said.

Dold was joined at several stops of his bus tour Sunday by Highland Park pediatrician Arie Friedman. Friedman is the Republican candidate hoping to succeed retiring state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest).

Friedman’s Democratic opponent, West Deerfield Township Supervisor Julie Morrison, was on a Julie tour with Schneider’s wife, Julie Dann. The two of them first took a group of people to vote early in Highland Park with Dann before heading to Deerfield for another rally where Morrison cast her ballot. .