Mayor, Rahm Emanuel Chicago Mayor | featured news

Will ex-Obama enforcer's soft side make him mayor of Chicago?

Rahm Emanuel is in striking distance of being elected Chicago's next mayor on Feb. 22, with Gery Chico emerging as the rival with the best chance of forcing him into a runoff, a new Tribune/WGN poll shows.

It's full steam ahead for Rahm Emanuel's Chicago mayoral bid.

Rahm Emanuel, who is known for his sharp tongue, offered quiet, controlled responses in a hearing about his eligibility to run for mayor.

Rahm Emanuel officially announced Saturday what everyone has known since he quit his job as White House chief of staff, hugged President Barack Obama and returned to Chicago: He's in.

His conversations with Rod Blagojevich and the convicted former governor's chief-of-staff were captured on federal wiretaps, but Rahm Emanuel insists that all he ever offered Blagojevich was "thanks and appreciation."He concedes that there may well be a "Stop Rahm" movement among some veteran Democratic ward bosses who favor a strong Council and weak mayor, but says he longs for a "fresh start" with more input and collaboration from the City Council.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will step down Friday to run for mayor of Chicago, two sources told CNN Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said his hard-nosed chief of staff Rahm Emanuel would make a terrific mayor of Chicago but expects him to wait until after the November congressional elections to decide whether to run.