DeKALB | Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) generally spends the election period stumping for other candidates.

But a recent storm of accusations directed at the speaker of the House forced him to focus on his own district this past rainy Saturday afternoon.

Hastert made an appearance at the DeKalb County Republican Headquarters as part of his four-county tour.

Amidst the campaign signs, campaign workers and pictures of former office holders on the wall, Hastert, State Rep. Robert W. Pritchard (R-Ill.), Illinois State Sen. Brad Burzynski (R-Ill.) and James Barr, the chairman of the DeKalb County Republicans, all gave speeches.

Hastert spoke on things he feels the Republican Party needs to do and things they have done, including creating jobs and lowering taxes.

“When you look at the Republican record, we’ve passed legislation to keep taxes low,” Hastert said. “This is philosophically what our forefathers thought.”

Hastert said that although the party as a whole has initiated changes, it needs the voters’ help to finish them.

“It is important for people to see we are in the more spread out parts of the district,” Hastert said.

Pritchard was pleased with and appreciated Hastert’s appearance.

“I think he does an excellent job of representing our values,” Pritchard said.

Barr said he hoped the rally would positively impact the upcoming election.

“We hope to rally up and get ready for election night,” Barr said.

Sophomore communication major Anne Faivre said the rally was beneficial to her as a student.

“I think it was informative and interesting,” she said. “It reminded me that, as a college student, I need to get out and vote.”