Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley is considering a run for governor of Illinois, the Chicago Tribune reports.
"I've thought about it before and I don't take it off the table," Daley told Tribune on Wednesday. "I think right now, to be very frank with you, the last thing in the world anybody wants to hear about is a race that's two years down the road."
Though he brushed off the possibility just a few weeks ago, to focus on President Obama's reelection, it now looks to be a real possibility. The gubernatorial seat in the Prairie State is held by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, whose polling has been down in recent months.
"I think Pat's an honest, decent guy who's come through over the last 12 years as either the No. 1 or No. 2 highest elected official in the state," Daley said. "I think Pat's determined to get something done, but so far that's been very difficult to get done down in Springfield. But he's got a couple more tries before re-election for him, if he runs again."
Daley, the son and brother of two former Chicago mayors, has the clout for such a high profile run. He previously served as President Obama's former White House chief of staff, though his tenure was brief, and as U.S. Commerce Secretary.
