Dan Rutherford, Ill. Treasurer and chair of the Illinois chapter of Mitt Romney’s campaign, addressed a crowd gathered at the Wit Hotel, 201 N. State St., for the Romney party sponsored by the Chicago Young Republicans.

Rutherford began his speech by saying that it is a unique time for Illinois. He is proud to have a president from Illinois, “but it’s time to change that,” he said.

Rutherford believes there were two tipping points for Romney in this election. He said the first was the selection of Paul Ryan as candidate for vice president. The other was the first presidential debate.

“You saw the split screen and you had the chance to decide,” Rutherford said. “We have not given up an inch.”

Rutherford expressed optimism for the results of the election.

“If everything goes the way we are projecting it to go, on Jan. 21, 2013, the Chief Justice will ask Mitt Romney to raise his right hand to be the President of the United States,” he finished.