The issue was never in doubt last night in Chicago as Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to the president, has been elected mayor.The city's "non-partisan" election rules state that any candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote need not compete in a run-off. Emanuel won the mayor's race free and clear with 54% of the vote in a crowded field.Clout Street: Emanuel needed to be above the 50 percent benchmark to avoid a runoff election and six more weeks of campaigning, and he got what he needed. With 96 percent of precincts counted, Emanuel had 54.9 percent to 24.4 percent for Chico.City Clerk Miguel del Valle had 9.4 percent and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun was at 8.7 percent.Braun conceded defeat, saying she didn't know whether there'd be a runoff."I believe that hope flames eternal," she told supporters. "We will continue to try to inspire people, to get them engaged in government....I wish the victor in this race all the success in the taking of...(Read Full Post)