US Senate hopeful (and Calumet City resident) Alan Keyes, in NYC for the Republican National Convention, criticized Dick Cheney for recent comments that Cheney made about Mary Cheney, his gay daughter. Illinois Republican Party Chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka said that Keyes' remarks should not distract people from the key election issues, while Senator John McCain offered a more candid evaluation of Keyes' chances in November: "I think it's clear we lose Illinois."