Court rejects Rahm's run

I think we can safely assume Rahm's immediate reaction to this news was unprintable. In a move that appears to have taken nearly everyone by surprise, Rahm has been told he can't run:

Rahm Emanuel was thrown off the ballot for mayor of Chicago today by an appellate court panel, a stunning blow to the fund-raising leader in the race.

An appellate panel ruled 2-1 that Emanuel did not meet the residency standard to run for mayor.

Of course, Rahm "who has been a front-runner both in polls and in fund-raising in the race" can't have been completely taken unawares:

The question of Mr. Emanuel’s residency — and whether he had lived in Chicago long enough to appear on the city’s ballot — had been a matter of debate since Mr. Emanuel departed the White House last fall to run for mayor.

So much for the vaunted power of the Chicago political machine. If it was really that all powerful and with Rahm being Daley's chosen heir, this would never have happened. He will of course appeal to the state Supreme Court.

I'm rooting for him to win. The race will barely be worth watching without Mr. Emanuel's colorful candidacy.