Tea Party Backs Rahm Rival

A Tea Party revolution may be brewing in Barack Obama's very Democratic backyard. The local branch of the upstart party is backing a rival of former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel in the fight to be Chicago mayor. But another mayoral candidate sees the endorsement of Democrat Gery Chico as the kiss of death. "Personally, this is an endorsement that I would never accept," Democratic candidate Miguel del Valle said yesterday. "The Tea Party's positions on everything from immigration reform to health care reform are not aligned with the needs and wants of the people of Chicago."

Chico, meanwhile, slammed Emanuel yesterday for "his failure to advocate for working families and immigration reform," reports the Huffington Post. A Tea Party statement backing Chico focused on his willingness to at least consider dumping a Chicago residency law for police and fire fighters—though he hasn't vowed to jettison the rule. His generally progressive positions on gay rights, immigration, clean energy, and abortion clash with the Tea Party's positions—so far. (More Rahm Emanuel stories.)