Huffpost Chicago

Tom Dart Advisor Hits Rahm Emanuel With 'Welcome Back' Video

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Rahm Emanuel is back in Chicago, laying the groundwork for his run for mayor. And from some corners, at least, the welcome isn't entirely warm.

Joe Trippi, a D.C.-based political consultant, released a YouTube video that's making the rounds on YouTube Wednesday, highlighting some of the negative responses Rahm has faced from citizens and the media during his "listening tour" this week.

Scroll down to watch the clip.

That the video was released by Trippi is no coincidence -- he's serving as an advisor to Tom Dart, widely viewed as the most viable challenger to Emanuel in the still-largely-hypothetical mayoral campaign.

On Monday, the former White House Chief of Staff began his listening tour, traveling to restaurants, El stops, grocery stores, and other venues across the city. Emanuel has been shaking hands and exchanging stories with a local audience that is by turns proud of his accomplishments and skeptical of his ambitions.

You wouldn't know much about the positive reception from Trippi's video, though. It's a montage of local news footage of skeptical anchors in the newsroom, and Rahm detractors on the street.

"He didn't give us a chance to voice our actual opinion," says one man. "Will Rahm Emanuel's candidacy be over before it begins?" opines an anchor.

The real shots come at the end, as reporters point out that his campaign-launching web video was actually shot in Washington, D.C., and remind viewers of Emanuel's ties to Rod Blagojevich.

Recognize that music in the background? Well, consider yourself dated: it's the theme song to "Welcome Back, Kotter."

Watch the video: