Barack Obama has chosen congressman Rahm Emanuel to be his White House chief of staff.[CCTV.com]

In this June 6, 2008, file photo Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.,left, huddles with then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. in Chicago. President-elect Barack Obama chose Emanual to be his White House chief of staff, his first selection for the new administration, Democratic officials said Wednesday. [Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo, File]

Emanuel is also from Chicagao and a good friend of Obama's. Emanuel is the fourth-highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives as the Democratic Caucus Chair.

If Emanuel accepts the offer, it will be a return to the White House, where he used to serve as a policy adviser to former US President Bill Clinton.

Emanuel maintained neutrality during the long primary battle between Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, possibly because of his long-standing ties with former first lady and his Illinois connections with Obama.

(CCTV November 7, 2008)