Jake Tapper is reporting that Rahm Emanuel will be announcing his departure from the White House in the next week or so:

Although no final decision has been made because of family considerations, ABC News has learned that White House officials are preparing for Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to announce on Friday — as Congress adjourns for recess — that he is leaving his post to explore a run for mayor of Chicago.

White House officials expect that President Obama will also name an interim chief of staff, perhaps senior adviser Pete Rouse, at the announcement.

My thoughts, speaking from a position of complete ignorance regarding Chicago politics and a distant view of White House Kremlinology:

• Richie Daley deciding not to run for reelection took everyone by surprise, which is why there might be a for Rahm to leave.
• I get the feeling that Rahm may have been pushed, but it may just be people jockying for position now that they know that he is leaving.
• He is not a shoe-in by any means, particularly if Obama is diminished by the election results. (The primary is in February)
• This may be a part of the White House retooling its staff, there has been a lot of turnover, but the problems are pervasive enough that I would consider it to be rearranging deck chairs on the titanic. The problem is not senior staff, it is POTUS.

Still, I won’t miss him, and my condolences to the people of Chicago