[3] Other support from the business community was won by his dedication to projects such as highways, parking lots, and the development of O'Hare Airport (O'Hare, which had opened for passenger service the year Daley had become mayor, saw developments during Daley's term that positioned it to become the city's major airport).

Daley launched his reelection campaign December 11, 1958 at the Morrison Hotel, before a crowd of greater than 1,000 loyalists of the Cook County Democratic Party.

This gave him the potential to possibly earn votes in the general election of an overwhelmingly Democratic city.

Sheehan sought in his campaign to characterize Daley as the head of a corrupt power-hungry political machine.

[3] Sheehan argued that crime and drugs were rampant on the South Side because they received protection from Daley and the Democratic machine, saying, "there seems to be a positive correlation and connection between those areas which have suffered a breakdown of law and order and the Democratic Party success".

[3] Daley saw support from former Illinois Governor and two-time Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson II, who at a Democratic rally held near the end of the campaign remarked in praise of Daley, "I dare say that seldom if ever have we been served by such a combination of politician and idealist, who by the arts of one could achieve the objectives of the other.

"[10] He also received the backing of US Senator Paul Douglas, who in one speech supporting Daley called him, "the best mayor Chicago ever had".

[3] Reviving a tactic used in his previous campaign, a "Volunteers for Daley" committee was formed to generate support among reform Democrats.