Rahm Emanuel is initiating his campaign for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary by engaging in early campaigning and announcing policy positions. On Friday, he began a bicycle tour in New Hampshire, a key early voting state, as part of a three-day event.
The tour, named the "Spin-Free Tour," aims to raise funds for a nonprofit organization that provides bicycles to underprivileged children. Emanuel is also participating in a Democratic Party event in North Hampton during this tour.
Emanuel, who has held various political roles including White House aide and Chicago mayor, is conducting community meetings throughout the tour to distinguish himself from other Democratic candidates. He recently announced a "grand bargain" on education reform and has published several opinion pieces discussing his national security and military reform policies.
A source close to Emanuel stated that he believes there is an education emergency that needs to be addressed. Some Democrats appreciate his policy-focused approach, contrasting it with the anti-Trump rhetoric that has dominated recent campaigns.
Neil Levesque, Director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, noted that Emanuel's bike trip offers a unique way to connect with voters. However, some political analysts, like Dante Scala, believe that Emanuel's efforts may be premature, as voters are currently more focused on the upcoming midterm elections.
Current polling data shows that former Vice President Kamala Harris leads the early Democratic primary field with approximately 27% support, followed by Governor Gavin Newsom at 18%, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 13%, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 12%. Other potential candidates are polling in single digits as the primary approaches.