Run, Rahm, Run

another rat leaving the ship, even if he does not run for the mayors job. And who could pass up heading that den of corruption?


Put more bluntly, the chief of staff is the first person to greet the president in the Oval Office in the morning and the last one to see him at night before he heads up to the residence. He or she has the ability to help set the agenda of the entire U.S. government, which is why most chiefs of staff burn out within a couple of years -- it's simply back-breaking.

That's why even if Emanuel decides to skip the mayor's race, he has told close associates he's likely to leave the exhausting job roughly in the spring of 2011 anyway, according to Democratic sources. So the subtle jockeying to replace Emanuel had already begun privately even before Daley made his announcement, and it will continue if Emanuel ultimately decides to skip the Chicago race -- because at some point soon, the White House job will be open.