What Will Rahm Emmanuel Do Next?



The future is bright for the hardworking and "intense" Congressman Rahm Emmanuel. As the architect of the Democrats House victory in 2006 he could have claimed the Majority Whip position, but he stepped aside, giving it to the well-respected Congressman Clyburn in a noble gesture to African-Americans, who are the base of the party. Instead he settled for the Democrat Caucus Chair. Very nice.

And though he came on board late to the Obama campaign -- he didn't want to offend his patrons, The Clintons, like Governor Bill Richardson did -- it all seems to have worked out for him in the end.

And with the ascension of Obama, Chicago, which Rahmbo happens to represent, is now the red-hot center of Democratic politics. So, we ask the question: What's next?

Our favorite Dickensian villain Robert Novak recently noted that Rahm could possibly take over Senator Obama's seat should the candidate become President:

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is reported to be privately talking about Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the House Democratic Caucus chairman, as the next senator from Illinois if Sen. Barack Obama wins the presidential election.

"Emanuel told this column he is not interested in the Senate and has not talked to Pelosi about it. He also suggested that Pelosi might be saying she would regret losing him from her leadership team. However, the source quoting the speaker indicated she was enthusiastic about Emanuel's elevation to the Senate."

Or, Emmanuel could just go after the Speakership of the House, where the real Power in the legislative branch is centered. But if Rahm does, there will probably be a sanguinary battle with the powerful Majority Leader Congressman Steny Hoyer, a tough infighter from Baltimore politics (Where Pelosi learned her chops), that beat out Pelosi's hand-picked would be successor, Congressman John Murtha. More Novak:

"... The same source said Pelosi indicated that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer would be her eventual successor as speaker, even though she opposed his election to the second-ranking leadership position. Emanuel has been widely mentioned as the speaker of the next decade."

Backroom Baltimore politics versus The Chi-town heat? Bring it! Stay tuned ..