Obama Praises Rahm Emanuel For Shoveling Snow

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says he doesn't have to make calls on behalf of Rahm Emanuel, his former chief of staff who's running for mayor of Chicago. The president says Emanuel seems to be "doing just fine" on his own.

Obama also jokingly praised Emanuel for his efforts shoveling snow in the wake of some massive recent snowfalls in Chicago. Emanuel has been seen around Chicago helping clear up the snow, something Obama said he never saw his one-time aide do in Washington.

Chicagoans vote for mayor on Feb. 22. It's Obama's hometown, and the president and his wife still vote there by absentee ballot.

The president spoke at a White House news conference Tuesday.