Why Rahm Emanuel has to decide soon (WP)

[mike r]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/rahms-rapid-fire-decision-on-c.html?hpid=news-col-blog

* Candidates for mayor need to gather 12,500 signatures from Chicago residents before or by Nov. 22, the filing deadline for the race. One senior Democratic operative estimates that to be safe any candidate would want to get at least double that number as large numbers of signatures are regularly challenged and ruled invalid. Gathering that number of valid signatures takes organization -- something that's hard to build as an unannounced candidate.

* One smart Chicago Democrat estimates that a winning mayoral race will cost the victorious candidate somewhere between $6 and $7 million -- a significant sum that takes time to raise. That total could go even higher if Emanuel (or any other candidate) failed to get to 50 percent in the Feb. 22 election as the top two vote-getters would then advance to a April 5 runoff. And, the 2011 mayoral race will be governed by a new set of campaign finance laws that make raising large sums of money in a short period of time significantly more difficult than in years past. (One x-factor that is likely to work in Emanuel's favor: he should be able to transfer the $1.2 million sitting in his federal campaign account into a mayoral bid.)

* After two decades of Richard M. Daley as mayor, there are lots (and lots) of aspiring politicians who see themselves as the next mayor of the Windy City. Given the number of people who will look at the contest, it's in Emanuel's political interest to send a strong signal soon about his intentions. While an Emanuel candidacy wouldn't clear the field, it would certainly give some second-tier candidates pause about the prospect of challenging a well funded and notoriously bare-knuckled Emanuel.

* Departures are a near-certainty from the White House following the midterm elections -- if for no other reason than the Obama re-election will begin to ramp up in earnest on Nov. 3. Given that change is coming, there is likely a desire within the White House to make sure the President's top adviser is in place prior to these departures to preserve some sense of continuity -- not to mention deal with the fallout from near-certain seat losses in the House and Senate. In order for the White House to set that process in motion, Emanuel needs to decide whether he is staying or going as soon as possible...

[Fleshdancer]

1. I don't understand why he would want this job

Granted Chicago is a very large city, but if you were the Chief of Staff to the President of the United States, would you step down to run for mayor?

What am I missing?

[notesdev]

2. It would be his own little fiefdom

Like a feudal Lord preferring to rule his own territory rather than stay in the king's castle as one voice of many.

I find it remarkable how he is suddenly being anointed the new Mayor-for-life. If you asked a hundred Chicagoans at random who they would want to be the next mayor, how many would voice his name?

[Radical Activist]

4. Many people from Chicago tend to think the world revolves around their city.

And being mayor has a mythical quality to city politicians.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. $6-$7 million is pocket change for Rahm

He went to Wall Street after helping to repeal Glass-Steagall, and was able to amass many millions in just a few months.

[unkachuck]

5. hey rambone....

....take a break....get out of Washington and go fuck up Chicago for a while, it needs you....

....winter's coming, the Windy City could use your hot air blowing over the airwaves....begin with a 'fuck the UAW' battle-cry, then rally the troops....Chicago loves you, rahm....

[dflprincess]

6. Wouldn't it be cool if he stepped down as Chief of Staff

and then couldn't get the 12,500 signatures?

Just a little fantasy.

[QC]

7. Are there 12,500 people in Chicago who want him back? n/t

[SugarShack]

8. best thing that could happen to the democratic party....Rahm fishes out of same corporate money pot

as the rest.