White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is polling Chicagoans, testing the waters for a mayoral run. One of the questions he wants answered? How much of an asset, or liability, is his perceived closeness with President Obama?

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel decided not to come home this weekend, but a source tells Ward Room that he is instead conducting a poll of Chicagoans as he decides whether to run for Mayor.
Those polled are being asked their thoughts not only on Rahm as a potential candidate, but how well President Barack Obama is doing in the White House and about Rahm’s perceived closeness to Obama.
“Rahm is thinking this through and evaluating whether to run and this is one step in the process,” a source close to the White House Chief of Staff said.

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