Chicago Politics

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has announced he will not run for re-election. This has resulted in speculation that President Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel may seek the position.

Another candidate is Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (son of Jesse Jackson).

Jackson and Emanuel met privately in Washington D.C. last week Wednesday. During the meeting, both men agreed the campaign should be conducted "on the highest moral ground possible,'' Jackson said. (Hee, hee.)

Today, Jackson woke up to leaked reports in the Sun-Times that  Raghuveer Nayak, a major political fund-raiser, has told federal authorities that Jackson directed him to offer former Gov. Rod Blagojevich six million in campaign cash in return for an appointment for Jackson to the U.S. Senate, to succeed President Obama.

For good measure, the Rahm Emanuel news bulletin Sun-Times also through in a tiny tid bit about Jackson's personal life:

Sources said Nayak also told authorities that Jackson asked him to pay to fly a Washington, D.C., restaurant hostess named Giovana Huidobro (pictured below) — described as a “social acquaintance” of the Democratic congressman — to Chicago to visit him. Nayak did so twice, according to the sources

In a statement, Jackson acknowledged knowing Huidobro and that the relationship was something he an his wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson, have had to deal with.


“The reference to a social acquaintance is a private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago,” Jackson said in his statement. “I ask that you respect our privacy.

“I know I have disappointed some supporters, and for that I am deeply sorry. But I remain committed to serving my constituents and fighting on their behalf.”

Huidobro is a hostess at Ozio, a cigar and martini lounge in Washington D.C. Here are some pics from Ozio's.