Obama announces Emanuel as chief of staff

CHICAGO — Barack Obama announced Thursday that fellow Chicagoan Rahm Emanuel will serve as White House chief of staff, saying "No one I know is better at getting things done."

The No. 4 Democrat in the House, Emanuel quoted Obama's campaign slogan in saying he was leaving a job he loves for one reason: "I want to do everything I can to help deliver the change America needs."

One of Obama's first decisions as president-elect was to ask the Illinois congressman to run his White House staff. The selection of the fiery Democrat marked a shift in tone for Obama, who had chosen more low-key leadership for his presidential campaign.

Emanuel, who served as a political and policy aide in the Clinton White House before running for Congress, said he had weighed family and political considerations before accepting the new job. He will have to resign his seat and put aside hopes of becoming House speaker.

Obama's team had not planned to announce the selection on Thursday, but word leaked earlier in the day. By afternoon, the campaign had released a joint statement from the president-elect and his new chief of staff.

In offering the White House post to Emanuel, Obama turned to a fellow Chicago politician with a far different style from his own, a man known for his bluntness.

House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio called Emanuel "an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center."

Before accepting the job, Emanuel told Chicago's WLS-TV that he was honored to be considered but needed to weigh the impact on his family.

"I have a lot to weigh: the basis of public service, which I've given my life to, a career choice. And most importantly, what I want to do as a parent," Emanuel said in an interview aired Wednesday. "And I know something about the White House. That, I assume, is one of the reasons that President-elect Obama would like me to serve. But I also know something about what it means to a family."

As word of Emanuel's acceptance spread Thursday, Obama was meeting privately in Chicago with U.S. intelligence officials preparing him to be commander in chief and transition team leaders tasked with building his entire administration in 10 short weeks.

The president-elect planned his first public appearances since his victory for Friday.

Aides said he will meet with economic advisers to discuss the nation's financial woes — Americans listed the economy as their top concern on Election Day — and then talk to the news media. Aides also said that Obama and his wife, Michelle, will visit the White House on Monday at President Bush's invitation.