Emanuel accepts key post offer

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By S.A. Miller and Sean Lengell, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

UPDATE:

Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, architect of the Democrats' congressional gains in the past two elections, has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer of White House chief of staff.

In an interview Wednesday, Emanuel suggested he was still considering the decision with his family and political aspirations in mind.

"I have a lot to weigh: the basis of public service , which I've given my life to, a career choice. And most importantly, what I want to do as a parent," Mr. Emanuel told Chicago's WLS-TV.

"And I know something about the White House. That, I assume, is one of the reasons that President-elect Obama would like me to serve. But I also know something about what it means to a family," he added, referring to the grueling pace that White House staffers must endure.

"This is not a professional choice. This is a personal choice about what my wife and I want to do for our family, as much as what to do with my career," Mr. Emanuel said.

A Democratic aide has confirmed Emanuel informed Speaker Nancy Pelosi of his decision and will vacate his seat in the House of Representatives.

The pick belied Obama's promise to bring a "new kind of politics" to Washington because of Emanuel's reputation as a fierce partisan with strong ties to the Clinton White House, where he worked as an aide and ran damage control for the Monica Lewinsky affair and campaign-finance scandals.

More recently, Emanuel served as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which this year outspent Republicans by pouring tens of millions of dollars into House races and helped Democrats pick up more than a dozen seats Tuesday. Like Obama, Emanuel is known for raking in huge amounts of campaign cash.

This is the first of President-elect Obama's decisions as he begins the transition process.