Mayoral candidates running races to runoff

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The first weekend of the unprecedented run-off campaign between Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia in the race for Chicago mayor is a working weekend for both men.

This was not a runoff the mayor expected to face. And yet Saturday, he spoke with confidence about the coming challenge, even as his opponent boasted of an increased support in terms of both people and money.

With six weeks to go before the April 7 runoff, both candidates for Chicago mayor are hard at work today trying to win over voters.

Emanuel's campaign kicked off its "Running with Rahm" events, a citywide canvassing effort to reach out to voters. At the city's 27th Ward office Saturday morning the mayor was among those hitting the phones.

"This is about leadership," the mayor said. "People are going to vote on confidence. Who is going to handle the challenges our city has."

Emanuel framed the race in black and white terms, saying over and over that Chicagoans have voted with their feet.

"This is a clear choice," he said. "We can go back to the days when jobs and families were fleeing and all our problems are that much harder to solve or we're a city that's growing."

Garcia was also hard at work trying to win over voters Saturday. First, at a gathering at SEIU headquarters he spoke in favor of a $15 an hour wage for home health care workers.

"Every time the minimum wage increases the economy improves because there is more money in the economy," he said. "Individuals are happier, families are better off and our neighborhoods do better when we raise the living wage."

Saturday evening at a Chinese New Year celebration in Rosemont Garcia addressed what according to some polls is a 10 point gap between him and Mayor Emanuel.

"People have been streaming into our offices, the money is flowing in," Garcia said. "People have a sense of new possibilities, that change is within reach."

Garcia also said in the coming weeks he expects to reveal the sources of these new contributions, as well as receive several new endorsements from people supporting his candidacy.

The runoff election is scheduled for April 7.