Emanuel to leave White House for mayor bid

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Rahm Emanuel is expected to leave his post as White House chief of staff Friday to run for mayor of Chicago, people familiar with his plans said Thursday.

Sources told the Chicago Sun-Times and The New York Times U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to personally announce Emanuel's White House departure Friday.

Obama plans to name senior adviser Peter M. Rouse to replace Emanuel as chief of staff, officials told the Times.

Rouse, who The Washington Post said headed early White House efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, has been one of Obama's closest advisers since Obama arrived in Washington nearly six years ago as a U.S. senator.

Rouse is respected inside the White House and on Capitol Hill, the Times said.

Emanuel will unofficially start his mayoral campaign with a "listening tour" of Chicago neighborhoods this weekend, the Sun-Times said.

Emanuel will officially announce his mayoral bid in Chicago after the listening tour ends, the Chicago newspaper said.

Emanuel, a U.S. congressman from Chicago before joining the White House, has said being Chicago's mayor is his dream job.

Candidates have until Nov. 22 to file petitions to run. A non-partisan mayoral primary is set for Feb. 22.

If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote that day, a runoff election would be held April 5. The new mayor is to take office May 16.