Rahm Emanuel ahead in Chicago mayoral poll

Eric Fodor

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Jan. 7 that Rahm Emanuel is leading in the Chicago mayoral poll.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Jan. 7 that Rahm Emanuel is leading in the Chicago mayoral poll.

A Teamster/Anzalone Liszt Research poll of 500 likely voters indicated Emanuel, former White House chief of staff, would receive 42 percent of the vote; former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun polled second with 26 percent; former School Board President Gery Chico was third with 10 percent; and City Clerk Miguel Del Valle polled 7 percent.

The Democratic primary will be held Feb. 22. If no one takes 50 percent outright, a runoff will be held between the top two finishers on April 5. Republican candidates are not really a factor in the race.

Emanuel's early lead is not surprising - he has name recognition and television ads working in his favor.

Chico just received an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, which could provide a boost to his campaign.

The Rev. James Meeks and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis recently dropped out of the race to try and rally black support around one candidate, Braun. Braun's share of polling increased after Meeks and Davis got out, but so did Emanuel's. If Braun can keep her foot out of her mouth - a tall order sometimes - I am betting on the race getting a little closer.

I expect Emanuel to come out of the primary with more votes than anyone else and face Braun in the runoff. Braun will have her hands full in a head-to-head matchup with Emanuel.

I'm thinking of sending a complimentary bottle of ibuprofen to the whoever wins. Being mayor of anything - let alone Chicago - is a big headache.