Rahm Emanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff?

In June, speculation abounded that Rahm Emanuel, Obama's fellow Democratic Congressional member from Illinois, was being slated to take over Obama's Senate seat upon his election. In July, that rumor changed, with Rahm Emanuel being mentioned as the future Speaker of the House. As the fourth ranking House Democrat, Emanuel could be in line for the Speaker position after Nancy Pelosi's term due to the fact that Majority Whip Clyburn and Majority Leader Hoyer could both be too old to take the position. Rahm Emanuel, at age 48 could be in line for this position and would be the first black speaker. This rumor, like others, recently morphed again with new media speculation that Barack Obama will announce that Rahm Emanuel will be his Chief of Staff. Obama staffers certainly won't confirm this since the election is still days away and Obama himself says his Chief of Staff is David Plouffe, his campaign manager.

Rahm Emanuel was an active part of the 1991 Clinton Presidential campaign. During his tenure as a part of the Clinton White House administration he was a part of the 1993 Rose Garden signing ceremony and directed the details of the famous handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and Palestinian President Arafat.

Rahm Emanuel represents the 5th Congressional district in Illinois which includes the north side of Chicago. After chairing the Democratic Congressional Campaign committee in 2006 which led to the Democratic majority take over, Emanuel was named as the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the 110th Congress. Rahm Emanuel's agression and intensity in his Congressional role earned him the nickname of Rahm-bo.

Rahm Emanuel is the son of a Chicago pediatrician who emigrated from Israel in the 1950s. Rahm and his wife, Amy Rule have three children.