Emanuel, 48, is No. 4 in the leadership ladder of the U.S. House of Representatives and is seen as an ambitious Democrat with many cards to play after getting much of the credit for engineering the party's takeover of the body for the first time in 12 years. Some say he wants to become the first Jewish speaker of the House, Politico, a Washington publication, reported Wednesday.

Citing unnamed sources, Politico says Democratic Party insiders believe Emanuel wouldn't be interested in taking over the Illinois U.S. Senate seat now held by likely Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Barack Obama, should Obama win the White House.

Instead, they say Emanuel wants to someday be speaker. He'd have to wait until Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., leaves the position and even then Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House majority leader, would appear to be the next in line, Politico said.