What's going on: As Chicago's 'mayor for life' steps down, Obama's chief of staff could step up

Also: Protesters clash with police in Los Angeles.

APChicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

From The Associated Press:

Chicago — Suddenly, the race for Chicago mayor is on. Mayor Richard M. Daley has thrown the competition for the city's top job wide open by announcing he won't run for a seventh term, ending 21 years of token opposition and prompting speculation about who's next in line to lead the nation's third largest city.

Political observers expect a crowded field, as Democrats seize the opportunity after years of biding their time.

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, a native Chicagoan, former congressman and one-time Daley aide already has said he'd like the job someday.

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