Mayor Rahm Emanuel woke up a pretty sleepy Illinois delegate breakfast meeting Wednesday morning. Emanuel first lavished praise on the speech that had all the delegates talking -- Michelle Obama's convention address.

“The First Lady gave a tremendous speech. It beats Tampa -- all four nights combined,” he said.

And in a preview of Bill Clinton's convention address tonight, Emanuel told the delegates the Republicans had been just as obstructive in the Clinton administration as in the Obama administration. Emanuel reminded the delegates of the 1995 government shutdown, which he attributed to Republican intransigence.

“Does it sound familiar? It's like Groundhog Day all over again with these folks,” he said.

The mayor followed the woman he has had a long-time testy relationship with: top Obama adviser and friend, Valerie Jarrett. Jarrett thanked Illinois for providing a needed safety net for the Obama team.

“Chicago politics are tough, but let me tell you, Washington politics are worse,” she said.

Jarrett echoed Michelle Obama's speech in telling delegates Barack Obama was the same man she had known before he came to Washington.

“He has the same integrity and moral compass that points true north,” she said. “He is someone who does not put politics first."

The glow from Michelle Obama's powerful speech lingered over the morning breakfast. Ald. Carrie Austin told me it was the First Lady's devotion to her children that moved her the most. Watch her comments in the following web extra video.