By Christinia Crippes

Whether they helped make history or just want to witness it, tens of thousands of area constituents already have requested Inauguration Day tickets.

Because millions are expected to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African American president, requests are at a premium in the president-elect's home state and the one that brought him his first primary victory.

With less than two months to go, that throng has to hope their name is drawn from a lottery and that the weather holds Jan. 20.

"We had to have the second inauguration of President Reagan in the Capitol," Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said of his first swearing in as a U.S. senator Jan. 20, 1985. "They could only let in about 100 people, 200 people, and I can still remember how the bitter cold, the blowing snow, the traffic was blocked in Washington (D.C.), so let's keep our fingers crossed."

Harkin said he's already received more than 5,000 requests. Like all of the senators, Harkin will get just 393 tickets to distribute.

His requests, though, cannot compare to Dick Durbin, a fellow Democratic senator, and currently the lone senator from Illinois.

Durbin's office reported it received 11,600 requests as of Nov. 25.

"Our goal is to make sure as many Illinoisans from all parts of our state and all walks of life get a chance to witness this historic event as possible," Illinois press secretary Christina Mulka said via e-mail.

Because of the requests, most lawmakers in the region are developing a lottery system to ensure tickets are distributed evenly. They're also comparing lists to ensure there are not duplicate requests, according to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

Of the more than 700 requests he has received, Grassley said he expects to give out at most three or four tickets to one person.

Because the House of Representatives has more members than the Senate, congressmen receive 198 tickets for the event.

While citizens attending the event must make their own travel arrangements, Rep. Dave Loebsack's office reminded Iowa residents they do not necessarily need to have tickets to witness the event.

"People should know that plans are being made to provide a public viewing area on the mall that will not be ticketed," Loebsack's press secretary Gabby Adler said via e-mail. "Additionally, most of the parade route will not be ticketed."

Still, making travel arrangements will not be easy.

Loebsack, D-Iowa, and Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., have received about 1,000 ticket requests already and are getting more each day.

"Inauguration Day will mean a lot of things to me -- the possibility for our nation to close the chapter on eight years of failed (President) Bush policies, the opportunity to pursue a new agenda that works equally for all Americans and a chance to show the world that our country is still the land of opportunity," Hare said via e-mail.

For Grassley, too, Inauguration Day is about more than witnessing history.

"Inaugurations are celebrations that not only demonstrate the peaceful transfer of power that our Constitution dictates, but also the great power the individual Americans' rights and responsibilities of citizenship," Grassley said in a release.

In most cases, the lawmakers ask people to contact their Washington, D.C., offices to request tickets. Hare's office, though, will take requests at any of his Illinois offices as well.

Grassley's office will not take requests after Monday; Loebsack's office will not take them beyond 5 p.m. Dec. 4; and Hare's office set a noon deadline Dec. 8. Not all lawmakers set deadlines.

Citizens interested in learning more can keep track of events and information through the Inauguration Planning Committee Web site at http://inaugural.senate.gov/index.cfm.