Choosing ‘Rahmbo’

Even Obama partisans must concede that Emanuel represents a stark contrast with the man who ran Obama's campaign. David Plouffe drove the campaign machine hard, to be sure. But he is a soft-spoken operative who kept a low public profile and prided himself on building a no-drama culture. No one could accuse Emanuel of those traits.

Obama's senior advisers dismiss the notion that Emanuel's toughness is a barrier to his building a cohesive team. "Being tough doesn't mean you're a bad leader," said one of Obama's inner circle. "The people who worked for Rahm loved him."

Obama's aides cite several factors in Emanuel's rise to the top of the new White House power structure. They say he has a rare combination of experience at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue—first as a key aide to President Bill Clinton, and more recently as a rising star in House Democratic ranks; Emanuel helped recruit and raise money for countless Democratic congressional candidates across the country. That resume, Obama's aides say, could help pave the path to legislative success for the new administration.

Emanuel was a leading player in the recent negotiations over the financial-rescue package. And his experience working for the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort could also help as the incoming team tackles the huge challenge of mending a battered economy and a wounded Wall Street.

There is also a powerful personal connection at work. Obama's advisers say the two men have a very close relationship, as do their young families. It was Emanuel who helped convince Obama not to move his family to D.C. when he was elected senator in 2004.

The personal chemistry is key; chiefs of staff are often the first people to say good morning to the president, and the last people to say good night. The current chief of staff, Josh Bolten, has described much of his time as being Velcro-ed to his boss. As president, you want to be Velcro-ed to someone whose company you enjoy and whose judgment you trust.

All the same, this wasn't an easy choice for Emanuel, according to friends. Becoming chief of staff means moving his own family from Chicago to D.C., while having less free time to spend with them. And it means giving up his ambition to move up the congressional Democratic leadership ladder—and, possibly, become House Speaker one day. "He was willing to forgo his leadership track for this, and he's very family-oriented," said one of his close friends. "This is a sacrifice."

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Emanuel said he was happy that his parents were alive to see the day when their son would be chief of staff to a historic president at a historic time. According to CNN, the man sometimes caricatured as "Rahmbo" then welled up with tears.

© 2008