Illinois GOP candidate snags endorsement from Lech Walesa

The famous Polish dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa will campaign in Illinois on Friday on behalf of a Republican candidate for governor.

Walesa, the co-founder of the Polish trade union Solidarity, which contributed to the fall of communism in Poland, will hit the campaign trail on behalf of Adam Andrzejewski, an Illinois businessman running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the state.

Walesa will speak at a luncheon, as well as help with a fundraiser, and speak to media during a barnstorming of northern Illinois on Friday said Brian McDaniel, a spokesman for Andrzejewski.

Andrzejewski met Walesa during a junket to Poland last year, which is a top trading partner with Illinois.

"Tbey were apparently very impressed with Adam, and Mr. Walesa, through some work with the Polish Chamber of Commerce here in the U.S., were were able to get his wholehearted support," McDaniel said. "He's announcing his endorsement, but also asking the people of Illinois to consider  him as their next governor."

Walesa wrote a letter on behalf of Andrezejewski, who is among a pack of candidates vying for the GOP nomination.

"I applaud Mr. Adrezejewski's commendable effort to bring real reform to politics," Walesa wrote. "His insistence on transparency in public life are badly needed not only in the great state of Illinois, but in any democracy."

Republicans are hoping to make a strong run for the Illinois governor's seat this fall after Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) was removed from office after he was indicted on federal corruption charges.

Voters head to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 2, to decide their candidates for this fall.

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