Illinois State Treasurer Alexi GiannouliasDemocratic Party operative Zenon Christodoulou on Sunday welcomed Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias to Edison to campaign for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.).

Statewide director of Greeks for Obama, Christodoulou described the 32-year old Giannoulias as a personal friend and protegee of Obama's, and a rising star on the national political scene who spoke at the Democratic National Convention. 

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) joined Giannoulias at Pine’s Manor to talk to 100 prominent members of New Jersey’s Greek community, which numbers between 80,000 and 120,000, Christodoulou said.

"Alexi talked about the importance of this election, but more importantly, his friendship with Barack," said the Democratic Party operative. "He gave us some insights into how smart and thoughtful this guy is, how he researches every issue and gets into the nuts and bolts of things."

Christodoulou, who serves as vice chairman of the Somerset County Democratic Party, was a member of the fundraising operation called "The Group," which supported Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) during the primary.

"I feel a helluva lot better about Obama now, particularly after hearing Alexi speak," said Christodoulou. "We got over our wounds."

Nationwide, Greeks for Obama have raised over $1 million for Obama, Christodoulou said.