Emanuel way ahead in new poll, but still faces big hurdle
(CNN) – A new poll of Chicago voters suggests former Obama top-aide Rahm Emanuel is well on his way to becoming the next mayor of the Windy City.
According to the survey conducted by the Chicago Retail Merchants Association, the former White House chief of staff is leading his closest competitor by more than 30 points. Emanuel registers 44 percent of support in the poll of likely voters, far ahead of lobbyist Gerry Chico at 12 percent.
Five other candidates come in at single digits and 16 percent of voters remain undecided. The poll surveyed 2,239 likely voters by telephone and carries a sampling error of 2 percentage points. The CRMA has not endorsed a candidate in the race.
But camp Rahm can't pop the champagne just yet. Emanuel is still dealing with the possibility the Chicago Board of Elections could rule him ineligible to run for mayor based on the city's residency requirements.
The city mandates mayoral candidates to have lived there for at least a year. Emanuel maintained a Chicago residence when he was White House Chief of Staff but leased it out – a fact opponents say should disqualify him from eligibility. Lawyers for Emanuel have countered that the ex-Obama aide continued to store valuable items on the property after he moved to Washington in 2009 – a sign he still considered it to be a residence.
Chicago lawyer Joseph Morris mediated a three-day hearing on the issue and is expected to make a recommendation to the Election Board Wednesday. The Election Board panel will then vote on the matter Thursday. The election is scheduled for February 22.
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Rahm you will win. we love you Rahm.
The fact that he is trying to fool the public by his claims that he was a Chicago resident while obviously living in Washington D.C. tells us something about his character and his ethics. As the saying goes you deserve what you vote for.
Chicago deserves this clown. I'm just glad he is OUT of a position where he could do damage to the entire country. Hopefully he'll stay there and line his pockets like all the DemocRATS do.
Yet another example of just how clueless democrats are. Virtually every state and major city run by democrats is failing, falling apart and going bankrupt. Yet, clueless democrats continue to elect clueless democrats. Astonishing, actually. What's the definition of insanity?
Meh.... Chicago. Same place that gave us Obama. Whay do you expect?
Please, Chicago, break from the rest of Illinois. Your corrupt politicians continue to drag the state and the country down. If you like these clowns so much, pay for their failures yourselves.
Wow, I really feel sorry for Chicago. It really is the dirtiest city in the U.S.
". . .virtually every state and major city run by democrats is failing . . . " Like Texas, California, South Carolina, and more. The clueless republicans just continue to elect clueless republicans. What is insane is that we elected a moron from Texas as president, and he and his republican culture of corruption almost destroyed the country.
Most republicans who still have social security, medicare, or even a job should thank President Obama. Bush drove us to edge of a great depression, and President Obama and most of the democrats averted it. Unnecessary wars are the mainstay of the republicans, along with any other unfunded mandate. Hopefully in 2012 we will see the last gasp of the GOP.
Republican congressman Connie Mack, of Lee County, Florida does not even have to fool the republicans. He lives in California, but the rich people in Naples like the way he caters to foreign money, so he gets elected without residency.
I am sooooo glad that I move out of Chicago......next step is out of Illinois. The democrats have degraded this state to the point of no return. I am surprised at how low the average Illinoians IQ must be to keep on electing liberal idiots. Just look at which states are in dire financial situations....ALL of them are controlled by democrats...tell you something?
He will WIN!!!!! And the HURDLE should not even exist – he rented the apartment but left his belongings there – STILL his residence!!
I am sure he will fit in.
Chicago has lot's more just like him
It is Christmas and the spirt moves me to wish him The Best
The only question is this: When has residency requirements mattered to a liberal democrat? Isn't it somehow against some unknown doctrine to prevent someone who cares as much about the "peee-pul" as Rahmbo does from being the next mayor of the Windy City?