Will Rahm Emanuel run for mayor of Chicago?

Longtime Chicago Mayor Richard Daley calls it quits, giving the White House chief of staff a convenient exit plan

Published September 7, 2010 7:40PM (EDT)

In this April 11, 2010 photo, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel walks along a driveway at the White House in Washington. Emanuel says "it's no secret" he'd like to run for mayor of Chicago someday. Emanuel made the remark during an interview on Charlie Rose's PBS talk show, which aired Monday April 19, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP)
In this April 11, 2010 photo, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel walks along a driveway at the White House in Washington. Emanuel says "it's no secret" he'd like to run for mayor of Chicago someday. Emanuel made the remark during an interview on Charlie Rose's PBS talk show, which aired Monday April 19, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP)

Chicago Mayor-for-Life Richard M. Daley is apparently voluntarily giving up the job his father bought in 1955. Daley unexpectedly announced today that he will not run for reelection in 2011.

Why now? For one, Daley's been polling horribly. But perhaps more important, his wife is battling cancer.

As for who will replace the man who's been running Chicago since 1989, there are a bunch of aldermen who've been waiting for this day. But the most prominent pol to express interest in the job is former Illinois congressman and current White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. Back in April, Emanuel told Charlie Rose that he would like, "one day," to run for mayor of Chicago.

Rahm will presumably crush all in his path in his pursuit of the office. The race would also provide a really convenient excuse to leave the White House shortly after the Democrats suffer big midterm losses, which Rahm was planning on doing anyway.

Chicago may have to suffer through a dozen years of Emanuel rule before one of Daley's children can take the job. (Sadly, none of them are named Richard.)


By Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene

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