Rahm to Obama: I couldn’t have done it without you

Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel turned President Obama’s glowing send-off into a near-endorsement that helped Emanuel claim a majority of the black vote.

On Tuesday, Emanuel got a congratulatory phone call from his former boss — and he told the crowd at his victory party about it.

“I also want to thank — and I just talked to President Obama, who sends you his love and affection for his hometown,” Emanuel said as the crowd erupted in applause.

Emanuel told Obama he couldn’t have won without his help, said David Axelrod, who served with Emanuel in the White House.

Obama released a statement congratulating his former chief of staff on what the president called a “well-deserved” victory.

“As a Chicagoan and a friend, I couldn’t be prouder. Rahm will be a terrific mayor for all the people of Chicago,” the president said.

Emanuel also got another congratulatory phone call — from Mayor Daley. The lame duck mayor sat out his first mayoral election in 22 years on a boat in the British Virgin Islands.

“Nobody has ever loved Chicago more or served it with greater passion or commitment,” Emanuel told the crowd. “This city bears his imprint and he has earned a special place in our hearts and in our history.”

“Tonight, we thank Mayor Daley for a lifetime of service to his beloved city and wish him and Maggie, whom we all love, all the best in their future. Rich Daley is the only mayor a whole generation of Chicagoans has known. And, let’s be honest: It’s an impossible act to follow. Yet we have to move forward.”

Ever since his Sept. 7 retirement announcement, Daley has publicly proclaimed neutrality in the mayor’s race. But it has been an open secret around City Hall that Daley was backing Emanuel.