Countdown to Rahmageddon: Coming to Jesus for One Last Plea
By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 21, 2011 3:00PM
All six candidates for mayor criss-crossed the city yesterday, making their final cases as to why each of them should be the one to succeed Richard M. Daley while hoping to implore enough voters to the polls to force an April runoff. Frontrunner Rahm Emanuel, perhaps recognizing the damage that has been inflicted on his campaign by Gery Chico's "Rahm Tax" attacks and his letter to city workers trying to clarify his position on pension reform, seemed to temper expectations for tomorrow's election, acknowledging that a runoff may be necessary. "It may take one or two bites of the apple" to get elected, Emanuel said.
Chico is already predicting a runoff between him and Emanuel. "We already have April 5 circled on the calendar. There is no halfway in this race." Chico said. Both Chico and Emanuel made their cases to the congregation at Salem Baptist Church yesterday, whose minister, State Sen. Rev. James Meeks, once was considered a possible contender for the Fifth Floor. Emanuel at least recognized the graying of the separation of church and state his and the other candidate's appearances to curry for votes at houses of worship.
“I’m a little nervous ... I grew up in a home about the separation of church and state,” Emanuel told worshippers in the massive church. “This is a pulpit. It’s intended to steer the ship of the soul. I’m used to speaking from a podium where you steer the ship of state.”
Emanuel also made a stop with his family at Apostolic Church of God, where he was warmly received. Carol Moseley Braun also stopped at the legendary church in the Woodlawn neighborhood, listing the major points of her resume and reminding the congregation that Emanuel voted 129 times against the Congressional Black Caucus while he was a congressman.
When the church appearances were done, Chico, Braun and Miguel del Valle appeared on Fox Chicago News at 9 last night to reiterate their cases for voting for them, and for forcing the runoff.