WASHINGTON–White House Deputy spokesman Bill Burton, reacting to Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel saying that he wants to run for Chicago mayor when Mayor Daley quits during a gaggle on Air Force One:
Q What is your reaction to Rahm running for mayor?
MR. BURTON: Look, we all serve at the pleasure of the President, and Rahm very much enjoys the work that he does as Chief of Staff. He was talking about a scenario where if Mayor Daley doesn’t run for reelection, but we all know that Mayor Daley is running for reelection. It’s something that many kids in Chicago dream of growing up to be a mayor, so it’s one of the great jobs in American politics. But it’s just an ambition — when I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut. Gibbs probably wants to ride in the Tour de France. That doesn’t mean we’re all leaving the White House to go and do —
Q Does the President think that Rahm Emanuel would be a good mayor of Chicago?
MR. BURTON: I think the President thinks that Rahm Emanuel is a great chief of staff and enjoys having him in that job right now. Maybe “enjoy” is the wrong word. (Laughter.)
Okay, thanks.