Former Obama aide disqualified from Chicago mayoral race

Former Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was waging a desperate bid to keep his campaign to be mayor of Chicago alive after a state appeals court kicked him off the ballot for not meeting a residency requirement.

The surprise decision threw the race into disarray with less than a month to go.

Just days ago, Mr Emanuel seemed to be steamrolling the entire field of candidates for mayor.

He had millions in the bank, a huge lead in the polls and abundant opportunities to show off his influence, including meeting with the visiting Chinese president.

Mr Emanuel’s lawyers quickly sought help from the Illinois Supreme Court, asking the justices to stay the appellate ruling and to hear an appeal quickly.

But time was running short, since the Chicago Board of Elections planned to begin printing ballots without Mr Emanuel’s name within days.

“I have no doubt that we will in the end prevail at this effort. This is just one turn in the road,” Mr Emanuel said, adding that the “people of the city of Chicago deserve the right to make the decision on who they want to be their next mayor”.