Tuesday is election day in Chicago, and there was no rest for the mayoral candidates over the weekend. Though former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel maintains a big lead in the race, it is unclear if he has the more than 50 percent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff.
As candidates headed to area churches, grocery stores and restaurants, supporters knocked on doors and made phone calls. Emanuel had some high profile door knockers on duty.
Michael Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday that new White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley's top aide Alyssa Mastromonaco was in Chicago supporting Emanuel over the weekend. Sneed also reports that Stephanie Cutter, presidential adviser David Plouffe's top aide, was also in town knocking on doors for Emanuel.
"There are friends of mine from the White House here out of friendship," Emanuel told NBC Chicago's Mary Ann Ahern Sunday.
While White House pals knocked on doors, some of Emanuel's opponents criticized President Obama for the support he has given Emanuel in the campaign. Though Obama did not fully endorse his friend and former chief of staff, he has said that Emanuel would be a "terrific" mayor and showered him with praise during a White House send off--audio which was later used in a campaign ad for Emanuel.
"During the presidential primary, when Rahm Emanuel was 'hiding under his desk' because of his friendship with the Clintons, I was doing the heavy lifting supporting Barack Obama," candidate and City Clerk Miguel del Valle told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Carol Moseley Braun also criticized Emanuel for failing to endorse Obama.
"The $14 million candidate didn't endorse Barack Obama and he was in politics," Braun said.
Last week, when Obama was asked if he was making calls on Emanuel's behalf, he said he didn't need to.
"I don't have to make calls for Rahm Emanuel," Obama said. "He's been doing just fine on his own."
Though Emanuel was leading second place opponent Gery Chico by 30 points in the last Chicago Tribune/WGN poll, he sounded open to the possibility of a runoff Sunday.
"It may take one or two bites at the apple, and that's what it is. It may," Emanuel said according to the Chicago Tribune. "But my goal here is not to measure that. It's to measure and make sure that people know my position on the issues."