Former Obama aide says she won't run for Chicago mayor

CHICAGO (AP) - Former presidential aide Valerie Jarrett says she will not join the political scrum developing to replace Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Jarrett, who served as a special aide to Barack Obama, says she is "humbled and honored" to see herself named as a potential candidate for mayor. However, she said she is not going to run.

A dozen candidates were running to lead the nation's third-largest city even before Emanuel's surprise announcement Tuesday. By Wednesday the list of people said to be weighing bids seemed to multiply by the hour.

Among the most high-profile names being discussed were former Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Bill Daley, who succeeded Emanuel as Obama's White House chief of staff. None of them were commenting publicly.

Jarrett said she will endorse and actively support a candidate for mayor with a proven track record of effective leadership.