Meet the new boss. Same as the old.

AP and CNN have called the Chicago mayor’s race for Rahm Emanuel:

Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff to President Barack Obama, won the Chicago mayoral election Tuesday, topping the 50% threshold to avoid a run-off vote, CNN projects.

Must have been those gung-ho Obama radio ads that put him over the top, eh?

From the Chicago Tribune: “Emanuel and his family were gathered in a room above the hall’s main floor. They sat on a small red couch as they watched returns come in on a flat screen television. Emanuel seemed giddy as he watched his lead grow.”

Just a reminder: What Rahm has to look forward to:

– A $654.7 million city budget hole.

– Massively underfunded city pensions.

– Public school disaster.

– Public housing disaster.

– 10.8 percent unemployment.

– Public corruption And more corruption. And more corruption.

– Consistent ranking as one of the nation’s most miserable and stressful cities.

Good luck, man. Enjoy the “giddiness” while it lasts…