'Rahm Emanuel can't count on Jewish vote in mayoral run'

As Emanuel embarks on "Tell it like it is" tour of Chicago in mayoral campaign, 'Tribune' reports Jews more interested in Israel record.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rahm Emanuel laughing 311 AP (photo credit: AP)
Rahm Emanuel laughing 311 AP
(photo credit: AP)
Despite coming from a well known and respected family in the Chicago Jewish community, Rahm Emanuel cannot expect to receive the entire Jewish vote in his upcoming mayoral run, according to a Chicago Tribune report on Sunday.
Emanuel, who resigned as US President Barack Obama's chief of staff on Friday, announced in a video released over the weekend that he would embark on a "Tell It Like It Is" listening tour of the city to kick off his newly announced mayoral campaign.
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At the Orthodox shul in West Rogers Park - where Emanuel's father was a practicing pediatrician for many years - that Emanuel attended before moving to the White House, the family is highly respected. However, that will not be enough to guarantee Jewish support for the younger Emanuel, the Tribune reported.
According to the report, the Jewish community is more swayed by Emanuel's record on Israel from his time in the White House than his proposals for policies in Chicago.
"It's not logical that international policy would influence a race for mayor. But there is some resentment here, no doubt," Chesky Montrose, a Jewish man from Chicago's Far North Side told the Tribune.
Chicago co-chair of Americans for a Safe Israel Cheryl Jacobs told the Tribune that many Jews were disappointed by the "the White House's heavy-handedness toward Israel."
Emanuel is one of several candidates and possible candidates who have scrambled to put together campaigns after long-time Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's surprise announcement last month that he won't seek re-election.
Emanuel spent three terms representing a North Side district in Congress before serving as Obama's chief of staff.