Against-all-odds friendships

Photo: Nicole Radja

“It felt like that show Wife Swap, where they put the belly dancer with the NASCAR family,” says lifelong Democrat Kevin DuJan, 32 (right), about crossing party lines during the 2008 presidential election to start Democrats for McCain.

During the primaries, DuJan was active in Hillary Clinton’s campaign, but when Clinton dropped out, DuJan decided to back John McCain. “Obama’s supporters were just so nasty and vicious to team Hillary. It made me question, Why am I blindly loyal to Democrats?”

During an assembly of Chicago GOP groups, DuJan met Jeremy Rose, 23 (left), political director of the Chicago Young Republicans, who’s now a close friend. “I felt like I was walking into a den of lions… and here’s Jeremy offering me a handshake,” DuJan says.

Chagrined at the election’s outcome, they still meet up for drinks. Conversation naturally drifts toward politics. “I always joke,” Rose chuckles, “that I’m going to get Kevin over to the dark side for good.”

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