Rahm Emanuel, Weighing Presidential Bid, Navigates a Democratic Party Moving Left

DES MOINES, Iowa—Rahm Emanuel has plenty of government experience to tout as he appears increasingly serious about running for president: former Democratic congressman, White House chief of staff, Chicago mayor and diplomat. But his centrist message clashes with an insurgent progressive base mesmerized by figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Zohran Mamdani, the self-described democratic socialist favored in New York City’s November mayoral election.

So it was instructive to see Emanuel surrounded over the weekend by the Democratic base in Iowa where he headlined an annual party fish-fry fundraiser in the state’s largest county. While he wasn’t technically campaigning, it was the first time the famously combative Emanuel had made a high-profile retail political appearance on his own behalf for the better part of a decade.

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The seriousness of Emanuel’s ambitions was obvious throughout his two-day visit. He deployed a small advance team to make preparations ahead of his stops and a professional video camera operator filmed him. He attended a high-school football game, visited a business incubator in a low-income neighborhood, and met with teachers, families and union workers. Emanuel seemed on a mission to shake hands with all of the roughly 400 fish fry attendees. When one woman asked if he is running for president, he replied: “I’m thinking about it.”

On stage, there was self-deprecating humor, a brief impersonation of Clinton and a pledge to work on his empathy. Still, the take-no-prisoners style that earned Emanuel the nickname “Rahm-bo” was never far away: “Washington needs a two by four, and someone who knows how to swing it.” He criticized the U.S. for not doing more to help children and parents, praised Australia’s planned ban of social media for those under 16, and reflected on time spent practicing ballet in high school.

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