WASHINGTON–For more than a year, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) has been hidiing under a table–his vivid imagery–to avoid picking between Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-IN.Y.) Though Emanuel, who is a superdelegate, is friends with Obama, he owes his political career to serving in the Clinton White House. Emanuel did repay the Clintons in part a year ago when Obama and Clinton were both in Selma, Alabama on the same day, speaking at different churches a block apart. Emanuel and his son showed up at the Clinton church. But Emanuel never did anything much in public view for Obama or Clinton.
Now that Obama has clinched the Democratic nomination, Emanuel on Wednesday is declaring his support for Obama, with whom they share David Axelrod as friend and political advisor. Emanuel called Clinton on Tuesday, the day Obama clinched. Emanuel was with Obama as he appeared at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference here. Now that Emanuel is unleashed, he can help shore up support for Obama in the Jewish community.
