Rahm Wants to be Mayor

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has acknowledged that he would like to be mayor of Chicago at some time in the future.

In an interview with PBS host Charlie Rose Monday night, Emanuel said he hopes Mayor Richard M. Daley seeks re-election and would support him in that quest. 

But he added that if Daley should decide not to run, he would consider running for the post himself some day.

"That's always been an aspiration of mine even when I was in the House of Representatives," he said, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Chicago-born Emanuel is a one-time Daley aide and longtime Daley supporter, but in January, the Washington Post published a report that said Emanuel was considering a mayoral run.

When asked directly about the report and whether he would run, Rahm said "No.  No, I won't."

Daley dismissed the report as "gossip."

Now we know Emanuel meant he wouldn't run against Daley, whom he calls a "very, very dear friend," and would wait for another opportunity.

Until then, Emanuel said he is completely focused on doing a good job as President Obama's chief of staff.