Rahm Emanuel’s Chicago mayoral dream is just that, White House says.

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Rahm Emanuel’s dream of being the mayor of Chicago is ‘just an ambition,’’ the White House suggests, and not necessarily a sign that the chief of staff is leaving soon.

‘Rahm very much enjoys the work that he does as chief of staff,’’ Bill Burton, a White House spokesman, said aboard Air Force One en route home Tuesday from California, where President Obama attended fundraisers for the Democratic Party in Los Angeles

The question involved Emanuel’s comment on ‘The Charlie Rose Show’ Monday night that he would like to run for mayor of Chicago -- but certainly will not so long as Mayor Richard Daley seeks reelection. The mayor, set to be Chicago’s longest-seated, is up for reelection next year.

‘He was talking about a scenario where if Mayor Daley doesn’t run for reelection, but we all know that Mayor Daley is running for reelection,’’ Burton said.

‘It’s something that many kids in Chicago dream of growing up to be, a mayor, so it’s one of the great jobs in American politics.’’ Burton noted. ‘But it’s just an ambition -- when I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut. (Press Secretary Robert) Gibbs probably wants to ride in the Tour de France. That doesn’t mean we’re all leaving the White House to go and do...’’

For more details, see The Swamp--Mark Silva