Chicago Mayor Richard Daley Wednesday offered few new details about why he’s not seeking re-election. But Daley did say he would have won if he’d decided to run for another term.
Mayor Daley this afternoon took questions from reporters for the first time since his surprising announcement. He would not highlight any specific reason for leaving after more than two decades in office.
DALEY: It’s time. There’s no reason. There’s no reason. I mean. There’s no reason. It’s just how you feel. That’s it.
Daley says it was his decision and his decision alone.
DALEY: You don’t start talking to your sons and daughters and everybody else. You make your own decision.
The mayor says he will not make any endorsement in the race to succeed him - saying the decision is up to voters. Asked if he though he would’ve won the election, Daley at first wouldn’t answer the question, saying he didn’t want reporters to label him as arrogant. But then, he added:
DALEY: I was not going to lose. That’s one thing. I knew I was not going to lose.
The six-term mayor says he’ll keep working hard through next May, when his term ends.