Chicago’s two mayoral candidates didn’t take any breaks as they prepared to face off for the first time in a one-on-one forum before the April runoff election.
Both candidates were out and about throughout the city Monday, hours before their televised appearance at NBC5’s candidate forum.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel hit the campaign trail hard Monday, starting with an early press conference to address challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s recently announced budget proposal.
Both Garcia and Emanuel released their plans for Chicago’s financial future on Friday and their budgeting strategies are bound to be a topic at Monday night’s forum.
Just before 1 p.m. Monday, Emanuel hosted a community lunch with African-American labor leaders, a strategic move that could help him secure some of the African-American vote seen as crucial in next month’s runoff election.
Garcia also made the rounds Monday, beginning with an event at noon to announce his latest endorsement from the Illinois Hispanic Pastors Coalition.
Garcia is also scheduled to participate in the SEIU Local 1 janitors rally for good jobs. The move comes just after SEIU announced the union would endorse Garcia for mayor.
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Later Monday, both candidates will participate in the 60-minute forum, which will be broadcast live from NBC Tower at 6:00 p.m. on NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) and in Spanish on Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV). The event will stream live on nbcchicago.com and include an additional 30-minute question-and-answer session on-line at the conclusion.
