Axelrod: Rahm Emanuel Would be a Great Chicago Mayor
Following the revelation that Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will not seek another term in office next year, speculation is mounting about whether White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will enter the race to replace him.
Emanuel himself released a statement saying the six-term mayor's decision surprised him. The Chicago native and former congressman has said in the past he would be interested in running, so long as Daley were out of the race.
In an interview with CBS News Radio this morning, White House senior adviser David Axelrod said that Emanuel has yet to make a decision about whether to leave his White House job and jump into the race.
"He and I both learned at the same time yesterday that mayor wasn't going to run," Axelrod said. "We were stunned, having both worked for him and knowing how much he loves that job. Rahm hasn't really had a chance to really digest that news."
Axelrod added that Emanuel would be "a great mayor because he's a larger than life personality, a personality who loves the city. He's not afraid to make decisions and to tackle hard problems."
Emanuel is "vital to the president" in his capacity as chief of staff, so he will have a hard decision to make, Axelrod said.
If Emanuel were to run, Politico suggests the most likely candidate to replace him as chief of staff could be Tom Donilon, a deputy national security adviser. Donilon served as the first assistant secretary of state for public affairs under President Bill Clinton, and his political experience dates back to the Carter-Mondale campaign.
Politico also names a number of other potential candidates for the job, including Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden; White House senior advisers Valerie Jarrett and Pete Rouse; and National Security Council chief of staff Denis McDonough.
The Associated Press reports that Daley, when asked about an Emanuel run, said Emanuel is a friend but added, "I think there are many people out there who would be great mayors."
Indeed, Emanuel is one of a number of legitimate potential candidates. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is considered a strong possible contender, according to the AP, along with U.S. Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Luis Guitierrez.
The filing deadline to enter the mayor's race is November 22, meaning Emanuel has little time to make a decision. The election will be held on February 22, 2011.
