Durbin says N.H. primary defeat helped Obama campaign

DENVER-U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told New Hampshire convention delegates that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's defeat in the New Hampshire primary was a turning point for the campaign.

"It was a night I reminded Barack Obama of three weeks ago," Durbin told the delegation at their daily breakfast. "That night really made the difference for the campaign."

Durbin said the campaign "intensified" after New Hampshire and on the night of the primary Obama thought the lost primary was a "good thing."

"Obama said, ‘OK and it's probably a good thing it happened to us at this point.'"

Durbin also discussed former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's (D-Madbury) senatorial campaign.

"I need another senator from New Hampshire," the majority whip said. "We love Jeanne and the work she's done. We went through a long process to make sure she was ready and the day she announced she jumped right into the campaign."

Durbin ended his speech by telling delegates he would see them at Chez Vechon, the famed French eatery on Manchester's west side.