Rahm Emanuel winner in Chicago’s Mayoral race
Commentary
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By Chinta Strausberg
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Well, with most of the precincts reporting, CNN projected President Barack Obama’s former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel the winner of the six-way mayoral race.
While the ward-by-ward and precinct by precinct totals aren’t available yet, I wonder if the African American community went fishing, and if so why?
Of the six candidates, Carol Moseley Braun was the most qualified, but cash-wise, she was one of the poorest ones, too.
So what does that say about Chicago voters…that they support only those who can afford to pay for TV and radio ads?
The Braun campaign was cash-strapped. So has it come down to that can buy votes via ads and street heat?
Was there an organized voter suppression going on?
I have so many questions and no answers but I do know that today in the memory of the late Mayor Harold Washington who was elected the city’s first black mayor today that we should have, could have done better.
When you don’t respect yourself, when you don’t recognize your power, others won’t either.
| Total Registration and Turnout | Â | Â |
| Registration                        1,406,037 |
1,406,037 |
 |
| Total Ballots Cast                 517,359    36.80% |
517,359 |
36.80 % |
| Mayor |
| 2241 out of 2570 precincts (87.20 %) |
| RAHM EMANUELÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 282,348Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 54.97% |
282,348 |
54.97 % |
| MIGUEL DEL VALLEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 48,329Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9.41% |
48,329 |
9.41 % |
| CAROL MOSELEY BRAUNÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 45,023Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8.77% |
45,023 |
8.77 % |
| GERY J. CHICOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 125,054Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 24.35% |
125,054 |
24.35 % |
| PATRICIA VAN PELT WATKINS 8,258Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1.61% |
8,258 |
1.61 % |
| WILLIAM WALLS, III |
4,594 |
0.89 % |
Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host.
