CHICAGO, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has begun laying the financial groundwork for his run for mayor of Chicago, an aide said.
Ben Bolt, Emanuel's press secretary, said the former congressman has used money left in a federal campaign fund as seed money for the new campaign, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday. Chicago for Emanuel was created Oct. 2 and paid $10,000 to the Illinois County Democratic Chairmen's Association this week for voter records.
Emanuel, who spent years as a political fundraiser for politicians such as President Bill Clinton and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, is also planning a Hollywood fundraiser for his own campaign. His brother, Ari, one of the heads of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, is hosting it with a number of other entertainment executives.
Emanuel is a force to be reckoned with in the crowded Democratic field for next year's election. Given Chicago's recent political history, the winner of the Democratic primary is likely to be the city's next mayor.
