Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr. Meet to Discuss Chicago Mayoral Race

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel reportedly met with Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. last night to discuss Chicago's mayoral race, which both men are considering entering.

Emanuel, who has been the subject of speculation about a potential bid since Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that he would not be seeking re-election last week, is one of more than two dozen potential candidates for the position, according the Chicago Sun-Times, including Jackson and his wife, Chicago alderman Sandi Jackson.

"Rahm and I agreed that the city's financial crisis puts Chicago at a tipping point," Jackson Jr. said in an interview with Politico. "Both of us are very concerned about the upcoming November 2nd election and the subsequent municipal elections, and agreed that every possible contender should conduct their effort on the moral high ground because our city deserves a very serious debate about its economic future."

"The ramifications of this tipping point could tear at the social, political and economic fiber that holds our city together and makes it great," Jackson said.

It was only last week that Jackson expressed his belief that Emanuel would have "some profound weaknesses" to overcome if he runs, adding that he feared the White House chief of staff would turn the race into a "national campaign," according to the Chicago Defender.

Emanuel, who recently commissioned a poll on his electoral viability in the city , is not the only potential candidate to have convened with Jackson about a possible bid: Jackson says he has met with a series of possible contenders, including Emanuel, Senator James Meeks and Democratic Representatives Danny Davis and Luis Gutierrez.

"Everyone is talking about the mayor's race," Jackson told Politico.

Officially announced candidates for the race so far include former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun, state Senator Rickey Hendon and City Clerk Miguel del Valle.

Lucy Madison

Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.

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