Chicago candidates hit the streets as polls open amid snow

Chicago, Illinois (CNN) - Amid a snowfall of a couple of inches, voters headed to the polls Tuesday morning to elect their first new mayor since 1989.

Candidates were hitting the streets hoping to rally voters. Frontrunner Rahm Emanuel, who previously cast his ballot in early voting, was shaking hands at an "L" train stop Tuesday morning while Gery Chico was hitting some polling stations and will vote later Tuesday morning. Carol Moseley Braun was going to her polling place to cast her ballot. Miguel del Valle, who also early voted, was also visiting polling stations throughout the city.

The city's board of elections is predicting a turnout of about 50 percent - which would be higher than some recent mayoral contests but not as high as the headed elections in the 1980s.
Asked if the snow might decrease turnout, elections board spokesman Jim Allen said no: "This is a mild dusting. We are tougher than that."