Eye on 2028, Rahm Emanuel Gets on His Bike in NH

Rahm Emanuel is logging miles in New Hampshire, and not just on the campaign trail. The former Chicago mayor and Obama chief of staff spent three days biking 117 miles across the state on what he's calling a "Spin-Free Tour," pairing the cycling with union hall stops and backyard meet-and-greets that looked a lot like the early stages of a 2028 presidential bid. Emanuel, 66, hasn't declared, but he's road-testing a pitch built around middle-class anxiety, tax reform, and a tougher, more centrist Democratic Party. "Tough times require a tough leader," he told the AP, while criticizing Democrats for focusing on cultural fights, including transgender bathroom debates, over classroom performance. "I don't think this is just about learning the words to 'Kumbaya.'"

Emanuel faces two big hurdles: he lacks a current office and remains relatively unknown beyond political insiders—one New Hampshire voter asked, "A campaign for what?" after he left a coffee shop. He's trying to fill that gap with policy rollouts (including a call for a 75-year age cap in public office), frequent podcast appearances, and relentless travel. The New Hampshire swing doubles as both a fitness display in an era of aging leaders and an early attempt to win over the state's famously demanding primary voters. But despite Emanuel's stamina, the Wall Street Journal points to his age as another factor—he would likely be the oldest Democrat running for the Oval Office in a party leery of a repeat of Joe Biden's run in 2024.