Rahm as Chief-of-Staff in Obama Administration? [View All]

[jefferson_dem]

Rahm?

All sides deny, but AP has the buzz:

Barack Obama's campaign has approached Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel about possibly serving as White House chief of staff, officials said Thursday, looking ahead as the marathon presidential race entered its final, frenzied stretch with a Democratic tilt.

The Democrats who described the contact with Emanuel spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to be quoted by name.

UPDATE: A colleague adds:

The AP account was dismissed by one Democratic source as "way too forward."

But there's little question--and press reports already --of potential interest in Emanuel.

Knowing the challenges ahead, Obama is said to be interested in a chief of staff able to work with Congress, and both Emanuel and former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota have been mentioned. Daschle is now focused more on healthcare policy and may not want the stress of the job; he also brings with him more ties to the Washington lobbying community through his wife, Linda Daschle.

Emanuel is younger, a proven figure in the House, and also has valuable White House experience from his years in the Clinton White House.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Rahm.html