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MADISON - They came from all over, hanging from trees, filling the capitol streets.

Police estimated the crowd at nearly 70,000, all of whom welcomed home the 14 state Democratic senators.

The Democrats have spent the last three weeks on the run in Illinois, dodging a vote on Governor Walker's budget repair bill that strips most collective bargaining rights for public employee unions.

"People might think this was a picnic for us, but they're wrong," said state Senator Dave Hansen of Green Bay. "We did it for the right reasons."

Facing a crush of cameras, one by one the Democrats answered questions for the first time together back in Madison.

And despite the Republicans finding a way to pass the bill without the Democrats present, dealing a big blow to union protesters this week, the fight is far from over.

"They're going to be moving to the streets trading rally signs for petitions," said state Senator Chris Larson of Milwaukee.

The protesters are now moving their focus on recalling Republican legislators.

And people like Ron Oliver, a Republican himself who claims to have voted for Walker, are joining the effort.

"I think it needs to be known that there are Republicans that disagree with this," said Oliver.

But it's a disagreement that appears to be far from over.

"We've awakened a sleeping giant," said state Senator Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee.