The Hill News

White House senior adviser David Axelrod hinted strongly Wednesday that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is weighing a bid for Chicago's open mayoral race.

Axelrod's comments are one of the strongest suggestions from the White House that Emanuel is considering leaving the Obama administration to return to his hometown to run for mayor.

{mosads}"He is digesting that news and will make his decision in due time," Axelrod said on NBC's "Today" show.

Speculation has swirled over Emanuel's future since six-term Chicago mayor Richard Daley (D) surprised many Tuesday by announcing he will not run for reelection. 

Daley's departure from city hall leaves a huge void and presented many potential candidates, including Emanuel, with a quick but momentous decision to make -- the filing deadline for the Feb. 2011 contest is Nov. 22.

There were also reports Wednesday that Chicago Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D) is considering a mayoral bid. Gutierrez has! sometimes been a critic of the Obama administration from the left, particularly on immigration policy. Other potential candidates include Daley's brother William Daley and longtime Chicago alderman Ed Burke.

Emanuel has openly spoken about his desire to return to Chicago to run for mayor. Like Axelrod, Emanuel moved from Chicago to Washington to serve President Obama in the White House. Emanuel also relocated his wife and three children to the capital city.

Should he decide to run, Emanuel would likely be one of over a dozen candidates entering the race. Axelrod praised Emanuel's political skills but also said that other advisers would be ready to fill the position of senior staffer should he decide to leave.

"For the same reason that Rahm would be an extraordinary candidate for mayor, he is extraordinarily important to the president," Axelrod said. "But no one is indispensable, and if he decides to go, there are many here ready to fill the breach," noting that Emanuel has not made his decision yet.