Emanuel, Blago never close, sources say

Rahm Emanuel and Rod Blagojevich maneuvered their way up
the chain in Chicago politics, but they have never been especially close,
according to sources who know the high-profile Democratic politicians.

Rep. Emanuel’s reported involvement in discussing Barack
Obama’s Senate seat with the embattled Illinois governor’s staff has put the
spotlight on the relationship the two men have had.

{mosads}Though active in the same Chicago political circles,
Blagojevich and Emanuel were not dependent on one another, said Pete Giangreco,
an Illinois consultant who has worked with both men.

“Neither one of them owed a thing to the
other,” Giangreco said.

Others didn’t want to be quoted openly discussing
Blagojevich and the incoming White House chief of staff, but they suggested
there has been a rivalry of sorts between the 52-year-old governor and
49-year-old lawmaker.

Emanuel, many said, thinks he is smarter than
Blagojevich, while Blagojevich believes Emanuel rose too fast through the
political ranks.

“They come from remarkably different worlds, but
it’s funny, their vocabulary is remarkably similar,” Giangreco joked,
referring to Blagojevich’s profanity-laced conversations, made public in the
recently filed criminal complaint, and to Emanuel’s fondness of four-letter
words.

Despite their differences, Emanuel and Blagojevich’s top
aide, John Harris, were in regular contact after Barack Obama’s election-night
victory, according to a recent report in the Chicago Sun-Times. The article stated that Emanuel’s voice was
recorded on 21 taped conversations and that he gave Harris a list of candidates
Obama wanted to fill the open Senate seat.

Emanuel, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, has
declined to comment since federal prosecutors unveiled their charges against
Blagojevich last week. His office refused to comment for this article.

Obama said during a Tuesday press conference that his transition
team will release a review of all contacts with Blagojevich’s office next week,
a delay at the request of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, The
Washington Post recently reported that Obama and Blagojevich were not
political allies. Blagojevich did not speak at the 2008 Democratic convention
in Denver.

Those who have worked with Emanuel and Blagojevich point
out that the two are both longtime Chicago politicians who represented the same
congressional district in Congress and are approximately the same age, but that
the similarities end there.

Blagojevich first won election to downtown Chicago’s 5th
congressional district in 1996, beating one-term Rep. Michael Flanagan
(R-Ill.). After serving three terms, Blagojevich won the governorship in 2002.

Emanuel served in the Clinton White House until 1998, and
subsequently became an investment banker based in Chicago.

Emanuel faced off against state Rep. Nancy Kaszak in the
2002 Democratic primary. Kaszak had some built-in advantages given her
background as an elected official and as a politician of Polish descent; the 5th
district is one-quarter Polish or German.

Blagojevich, who defeated Kaszak in the 1996 primary, did
not endorse anyone in the 2002 Democratic primary, though Kaszak is said to
have expected his backing. The silence benefited Emanuel, who ultimately
triumphed by an 11-point margin.

Before he won the general election, the brash Emanuel let
it be known he wanted to be on the influential Ways and Means Committee.

That did not sit well with Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), who
was also vying for a panel slot. Seven of 10 Illinois Democrats signed a letter
that endorsed Davis for the seat, citing seniority. Blagojevich was one of the
three who didn’t sign the letter. (Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Bill Lipinski also
did not sign it, though Lipinski backed Davis for the committee opening.)

Davis and Emanuel were ultimately passed over, but
Emanuel nabbed a Ways and Means seat after helping Democrats win control of the
House in 2006.

Blagojevich and Emanuel worked on a few issues together,
including urging a major drug manufacturer to continue offering prescription
medication at reduced prices in August 2004 and on local matters dealing with
Chicago.

In November 2005, Emanuel delivered a speech on the House
floor that highlighted Blagojevich’s efforts on a healthcare program in
Illinois: “I rise today to recognize Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for
establishing the All Kids healthcare program, and the Illinois General Assembly
for passing this important initiative. This plan makes Illinois the first state
in the country to provide comprehensive health insurance to every child in the
state.”

Blagojevich’s office did not return calls seeking comment
for this article.