BULLETIN – AT 8:59 P.M. ET:  CNN is projecting that Rahm Emanuel will win the Chicago mayoralty outright tonight, avoiding an April 5th runoff.

We stress that this is a projection.  We will continue to follow the actual votes of all voters, living or dead. 

This is an important election.  The mayor of Chicago has always been an important political figure nationally, and often has more real political power in the key state of Illinois than does the governor.

February 22, 2011