Mayoral candidate Gery Chico thinks he will be able to force a run off with front-runner Rahm Emanuel.
"We have a robust field operation," he said Friday morning at a news conference in Pilsen with Ald. Danny Solis (25th). "If we're doing our jobs right there's going to be a runoff."
"It's the final stretch we are fighting against any taxation," he added.
According to a recently released Chicago Tribune poll, Chico has about 19 percent of the vote and is the only candidate in position to challenge Emanuel in a runoff contest.
The candidate appears to have been encouraged by the results.
Emanuel says he's also encouraged.
"I'm most proud of the ideas we've announced on schools, public safety and putting the city's financial house in order," Emanuel said.
Politics
At the same time, he defended his use of President Obama in TV ads.
"All I did was use the words of President Obama," he said.
Opponent Miguel del Valle has called the Obama ad dishonest and plans to play an audio recording for reporters when Obama spoke highly of him.
He will have a TV ad starting Tuesday. Some of those who helped create it volunteered their service so he could air a campaign ad.
