Mayor Emanuel to launch re-election campaign Saturday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will officially kick-off his re-election campaign on Saturday.

As part of his weekend campaign blitz, the mayor appeared on Newsviews in an interview to be aired Sunday morning.

He's running for re-election despite polls suggesting his approval rating is well below 50 percent, a slide that worsened in 2013 after the mayor closed 49 Chicago public schools.

"I knew I was going to take political heat," Emanuel said, "but the heat I take is nothing compared to having a kid in a school that's not going to succeed for their education."

The 2015 campaign will include a focus on Emanuel's education successes: the longer school day and year including kindergarten, a broadened curriculum, improved attendance and, he says, higher test scores.

"We now have a rising graduation rate, the highest ever, and in three years we'll be at 82 percent," he said.

Emanuel launched his first television ads last month fueled by his war chest, containing more than $10 million.

Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, a Cook County commissioner, is one of nine candidates filed to run against the mayor.

"If you have a record that people don't like, you can't buy your way back to the 5th floor again," Garcia said in November.

Second Ward Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti is the only other current office holder.

"I think that a lot of the candidates are betting heavily on the anybody but Rahm premise," said political consultant Maze Jackson.

Jackson, who worked for Emanuel opponent Carol Moseley Braun in 2011, does not think widespread anti-Emanuel sentiment is enough to beat the incumbent.

"Typically, that 'anti' doesn't translate into votes," Jackson says. "It turns into people sitting home."

And Emanuel challenged his opponents to do more during the campaign than make him the issue.

"Every candidate should be able to lay out a detailed plan, a plan that is for the future of the city of Chicago," he said.

The Mayor event tomorrow also will reveal which Alderman and other elected officials support Rahm Emanuel's re-election.

The full Newsviews interview with Mayor Rahm Emanuel will air Sunday, Dec. 17, at 8 a.m. right here on ABC 7.