I almost missed this until I read the same story from the Fox website.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10 ... mayor-run/Though Rouse, a calm White House presence with his own seasoned understanding of how Washington work, is expected to serve as interim chief of staff, the president is likely to choose a permanent replacement after the Nov. 2 midterm elections. Obama is preparing for the possibility of having to deal with a Congress with a Republican working majority or more, but just in case that doesn't happen he can go to his favored pick. So it looks like even the White House polsters are tellin him prepare for the worst.