Rahm Emanuel in 2016?

Political rumor of the day: Rahm Emanuel might run for president in 2016, reports Lloyd Grove of the Daily Beast. The Chicago mayor has talked to Democratic donors and fundraisers more than once about the subject, Grove's sources tell him, adding that Emanuel would only run if Hillary Clinton doesn't. For the record, the mayor's spokesperson says it ain't so, and Emanuel pals Paul Begala, James Carville, and Bill Daley also threw cold water on the claim.

Still, “Rahm running for president is not as farfetched as it might sound,” says UVA political scientist Larry Sabato, noting that Emanuel has plenty of experience from his stints in Congress and two different White Houses. “He’s got an impressive résumé." And Sabato says he isn't overwhelmed by the Democratic field (notably Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo) if Clinton opts out. (More Rahm Emanuel stories.)