Race relations called into play in race for Chicago Mayor

Race relations called into play in race for Chicago Mayor
Danny Davis speaks to reporters at a news conference last week WBEZ/Tony Arnold
Race relations called into play in race for Chicago Mayor
Danny Davis speaks to reporters at a news conference last week WBEZ/Tony Arnold

Race relations called into play in race for Chicago Mayor

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A former president is expected to start stumping for Chicago mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel. And that has one of Emanuel’s opponents telling the president to back out.

In the 1990s, Rahm Emanuel worked in the administration of then-President Bill Clinton. Now the Emanuel campaign says Mr. Clinton is expected to stump for his former advisor’s mayoral campaign. But one of Emanuel’s opponents, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Chicago, said he’s, “disturbed” by Mr. Clinton’s apparent endorsement. In a statement, Davis says African-Americans have had a great relationship with the Clintons in the past, but if the former president endorses Emanuel for mayor, Davis said that great relationship could break.

In the statement, Davis didn’t ask for Mr. Clinton’s support. Instead, he said he hopes Mr. Clinton stays out of the race altogether.

State Sen. James Meeks, an African-American, dropped out of the race last week. That leaves Congressman Davis and former Illinois U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun as the two major African-American candidates who are campaigning.