Democrats Blame Rahm for Defeat

As they assess Tuesday's disaster, some Obama advisers are singling out the recently departed chief of staff. Richard Wolffe on the clash between Emanuel's personal ambition and his party loyalty.

As chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rahm Emanuel built a Democratic majority in the House. As President Obama's chief of staff, he devised White House strategy toward Capitol Hill. So when the Democrats were going down in flames Tuesday night, where was Obama's chief political architect? Half a continent away, campaigning for himself.

And his old colleagues in Washington aren't too happy about it. Some of them shake their heads in disbelief that Emanuel would bolt at precisely the juncture when the Democrats needed to shape their strategy and message during the homestretch of what everyone knew would be the toughest election cycle in years. "It was Rahm's strategy and then he leaves a month before the election for his own personal political career," said one former colleague. "It's extraordinary."
Daily Beast