Nov 5, 2008 10:44 pm US/Central
Rahm Emanuel Offered Chief Of Staff Post
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel gives the thumbs-up during the Democratic National Convention 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., on Aug. 26, 2008.
Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images
Feared by Republicans, respected by Democrats - he's the man President-elect Barack Obama wants to run his White House. Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel - a former Bill Clinton adviser - would be a tough muscle for Obama to have around. The north side congressman may be on the verge of publicly accepting President-elect Obama's job offer. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery spoke with Emanuel off-camera Wednesday night.
Democrats credit him with developing and executing the strategy that returned them to control of the U.S. House last year. Now, President-Elect Obama wants to make Rahm Emanuel chief of staff at the White House where Emanuel once served as Bill Clinton's political director.
He now has three young children and told CBS 2 that it won't be easy moving them to Washington from their comfortable north side neighborhood.
"We (Rahm and wife Amy) are going to have one more conversation. We've got three young kids," Emanuel said.
When asked if Emanuel will make a decision by tomorrow, he said: "Look, we as a family want to get this over...We gotta deal with this as a family, okay? We're gonna talk again tonight."
One of his constituents seemed genuinely surprised that Emanuel would consider leaving Capitol Hill where many believe Emanuel's in line one day to become the first Jewish Speaker of the House.
"He's my congressman. He's a great congressman. So, is he really doing that, huh?" Gov. Rod Blagojevich said.
A few parting words left little doubt that Emanuel is eager to join the new president.
"There's nothing like the White House. And I know that, okay? So we're trying to make that decision," Emanuel said.
Before joining Bill Clinton, Emanuel was once Mayor Daley's top fundraiser. Emanuel's City Hall was one reason that, by one insider's count, at least 95 Chicagoans landed jobs in the Clinton administration. He recalled tonight how demanding it was to work at the White House.
"On Friday nights, I would say, 'Oh, great. Only two more work days until Monday,'" Emanuel said.
President Obama was on the telephone with many people today starting to assemble his team. It's likely that a number of families will soon be meeting around the dinner table, as the Emanuels were tonight. We may learn tomorrow what the congressman and his wife have decided.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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