MARION, Ill. (AP) — U.S. House Speaker John Boehner is calling Illinois Republican congressional candidate Mike Bost the “real thing” who understands what constituents want.

Boehner was in Marion on Tuesday for a private fundraiser and public rally in support of Bost. The state representative is challenging Democratic Congressman Bill Enyart in Illinois’ 12th Congressional District, which stretches from the eastern St. Louis suburbs to the Kentucky border.

Enyart is a Belleville Democrat and former Illinois National Guard adjutant general. Bost is from Murphysboro and has served in the Illinois House for 19 years.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports Boehner spoke for about eight minutes to about 120 Bost supporters. He repeated comments he made at rallies for Republican candidates in Iowa this weekend. Boehner attacked President Obama’s foreign policy and “failed economic policies”.

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