With Lewis out, who remains in race for Chicago mayor?

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The race for Chicago mayor may be more of a quick sprint for Rahm Emanuel now that Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, is not running. So who are the remaining challengers in the race for Chicago mayor?

The landscape has gotten much easier for the mayor. The filing deadline is November 17, which doesn't give much time for another major candidate to join the race.

Ald. Bob Fioretti is considered the only high profile challenger. With Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle out and now Karen Lewis, many wonder where that leaves African American support.

On Tuesday, Emanuel was in Bronzeville for the opening of a new development. With media polls showing declining support in the African American community and a threat from a possible Karen Lewis candidacy, the mayor has tried to rehabilitate that support by attending many events on the South and West sides in recent months. But now that the Chicago Teacher's Union boss Karen Lewis bowing out of the mayor's race, is there another candidate that can carry the torch for the African American agenda?

"There are very few people out there and it's in our own making, so many people have decided to take the path of least resistance," said Delmarie Cobb, political consultant.

Cobb says other possible candidates do not want to risk their losing their current jobs for a mayoral run, and she believes Lewis was the only hope.

"She had the audacity to speak the truth to power and that is something not seen that often in the African American community anymore," said Cobb.

With Lewis out, Ald. Bob Fioretti is hoping to pick up some of her support. He is considered the only viable candidate to run against the mayor, however, he knows name recognition and competing against Emanuel's $9 million-plus war chest is going to be tough.

"He is raising money for that to strictly go out and destroy and stifle any different types of views he has," said Fioretti.

Fioretti was hoping a Karen Lewis candidacy would force a run-off. The winner of the February election needs 50 percent plus one.

While the mayor released a written statement about Lewis' decision, he did not take any questions at his public events on Tuesday.

Lewis remains in the hospital. A source confirms to Eyewitness News the Sun-Times report that she has a brain tumor.