WASHINGTON--Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton hit Chicago Sunday nght and Monday to headline a benefit for the Mercy Home for boys and girls, stroke big-time donors and fund-raisers and take part in a Democratic Leadership Conference event.

A lawyers' fund-raiser in Chicago on the calendar for Monday afternoon was moved to next week because Clinton had to fly back to the Capitol for votes. On Sunday evening, Clinton guested at a general reception for her major donors--members of her finance committee-- designed to rally the troops.

On Monday morning, Clinton breakfasted with Mayor Daley at the Palmer House. At an availability with reporters later Clinton said--in a reference to Daley backing her chief rival, Barack Obama, "I appreciate the political decision he made, but as I told him -- as I told my friends in Chicago -- I intend to be the president of the entire country, and I intend being a good partner for Chicago.''

After meeting with Daley, Clinton did a "meet and greet" with trial lawyers. The DLC invite asked people to join Clinton for "Coffee and Conversation'' as part of the centrist groups' "ideas primary." The DLC event, where she spoke and took questions, was hosted by Lou Weisbach, who got to know the New York senator while she was First Lady and he was a major Democratic fund-raiser and donor.

After that, Clinton spoke to a group of African-American clergy, arranged by the Rev. James Demus.

Rival John Edwards hits Chicago on Wednesday to deliver a speech for Women Employed.

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