Wednesday, February 23, 2011

In Chicago the victory of Emanuel, the mayor heartens Obama

After 22 years, Chicago, a Democratic stronghold, changes the mayor, but remains in the hands of the party of Obama, despite the maintenance of the Tea Party. The newly-elected with 55 percent of the vote against five other candidates has a very direct line to the president as his former chief of staff .

Rahm Emanuel, 51, left the White House in October and picked up $ 13 million for the elections, more than all rivals together: his strongest opponent Gery Chico has received only 24 percent of the vote. Emanuel conducted a widespread campaign shaking hands with voters at various subway stations, and knocking on doors of many homes.


If he had not picked up at least half of the votes would go to a second round in April. Its success in Chicago, the city of Obama, bodes well for the president in the elections of 2012. For the first time in 64 years, elections were held without the mayor in office is a candidate. After more than two decades, the current mayor, Richard Daley, has announced his retirement.

Daley is part of the city's most powerful political dynasty, and one of the most powerful of the Democratic Party: his father was mayor of Chicago from '56 to '77, and his brother William is the new chief of staff for Obama. Celebrating the victory, Emanuel, the first mayor of the jew's third largest city of America, said he wants "a people united for a common future." Obama has applauded: "I am proud of him." Chicago has huge problems, from a budget deficit of $ 600 million.

But Emanuel is the man to solve them. It has unparalleled political experience: he was also adviser to President Bill Clinton and Democrats in the House as chief whip was one of the architects of Obama's triumph in 2008.

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