Word Is Obama Asked Rahm Emanuel to Be His Chief of Staff

The AP reports Barack Obama approached Rahm Emanuel about being his Chief of Staff. Marc Ambinder doesn't see it happening.

Emanuel has been a regular behind-the-scenes adviser to Obama, knows everyone in Washington, is one of the better communicators in the party, and certainly is qualified for the post. But he's ... got a very strong personality that doesn't exactly jibe with the tone Obama likes to set for his endeavors. (David Plouffe and Rahm Emanuel could not be more different in temperament.) He also has a young family, and he has not moved them to Washington, and his hours as chief of staff would be hellish.

I don't see it happening because Nancy Pelosi is pushing to have Emanuel fill Obama's Senate seat. Jesse Jackson Jr. has been lobbying to fill the vacancy. Emanuel has more political capital within the party to make Governor Rod Blagojevich appoint him. Emanuel is fairly young and his star is rising. Chief of Staff would be a career dead end.