By David Nather, CQ Staff

Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois has accepted President-elect Barack Obama ’s offer to become the next White House chief of staff.

Emanuel, who is chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, was a White House staffer under President Bill Clinton and has won widespread respect as a congressional strategist and policy expert.

But his abrasive manner and hard-charging style could conflict with Obama’s promises to set a more cooperative, bipartisan tone in Washington.

In selecting a tough White House and congressional veteran to run his staff, Obama may be setting up a “good cop, bad cop” dynamic that would allow him to keep his inclusive style in dealing with Congress — listening carefully to different points of view — while relying on Emanuel to keep reluctant Democratic lawmakers in line.

In a statement released Thursday, Obama played up Emanuel’s experience in Washington, saying that “no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel .”

In his own statement, Emanuel was gracious, saying that his time in the House leadership taught him “a few lessons in humility, believe it or not.”

“I’m leaving a job I love to join your White House for one simple reason — like the record amount of voters who cast their ballot over the last month, I want to do everything I can to help deliver the change America needs,” he said.

Within the House Democratic Caucus, John B. Larson of Connecticut would be a front-runner to take the chairmanship, which is the party’s No. 4 position in the House. Larson has been the caucus vice chairman during the 110th Congress and could face a challenge from Joseph Crowley of New York.

Emanuel’s resignation from the House will prompt a special election in Illinois’ 5th District, which spans Chicago’s North Side and also some close-in suburbs of that city. The district in 2004 backed John Kerry over President Bush by better than a 2-1 ratio and also voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama in Tuesday’s election, so Emanuel’s successor surely will be a Democrat.

Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has five days after Emanuel officially vacates his seat to schedule a special election. Under state law, the election must be held within 115 days.

The Consummate Insider

Emanuel’s knack for both politics and policy has made him one of the most important Democratic figures in Washington. He engineered the Democratic takeover of the House in 2006, and as chairman of the caucus, he has had a hand in every major piece of legislation passed in the 110th Congress.

Emanuel pairs a thorough knowledge of campaigns with a deep interest in new policy ideas. He understands how to use the media, excels at fundraising and is known as one of the party’s best strategists.