Some Republicans who served in the Illinois Senate with Obama credit him for his pragmatic and diligent work ethic, particularly under the confines of a GOP majority that worked to stifle Democratic-backed legislation during much of his tenure in the legislature.

"While Barack had principles, he was, importantly, practical and realistic," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), who also is the GOP chairman of DuPage County, long the home of one of the state's highest Republican vote totals.

"Many of the same qualities that make Sen. Obama a national superstar--intelligence, charm and an ability to get along with all types of factions--were put to the test in Springfield in his early years," Dillard said. "Barack had tremendous respect from Republicans as well as Democrats, and for those of us who were lucky enough to work with him before he became a national celebrity, none of how America's media has characterized him surprises us."

Obama scored successes on key, and controversial, pieces of legislation, taking on such issues as requiring reform of the state's problem-fraught death penalty system, tracking and combating racial profiling by law enforcement, imposing tougher governmental ethics rules and mandating the videotaping of criminal confessions.