Such reactions are exactly why the leading lights of the Democratic Party -- including Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York , John Kerry of Massachusetts and Illinois 's own Barack Obama -- have rushed to back Ms. Duckworth 's bid for the Democratic nomination in Tuesday 's primary , making the Sixth District contest to replace Henry Hyde , the Republican incumbent who is retiring after 32 years , one of the most closely watched in the country .
John Kerry
Massachusetts
/people/person/place_lived
PERSON
Hillary Rodham Clinton
LOCATION
New York
PERSON
John Kerry
LOCATION
Massachusetts
LOCATION
Illinois
PERSON
Barack Obama
PERSON
Duckworth
PERSON
Henry Hyde
ORGANIZATION
Republican