WASHINGTON--White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett said Tuesday that President Obama believes former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel should be eligible to run for mayor--even though an Illinos appellate panel knocked him off the ballot on Monday.

Jarrett made the comments at the end of an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" with co-host George Stephanopoulos, who asked her what Obama thought of the appellate decision.

"Well, you know, we haven't talked to Rahm, but I'll tell you one thing we know is that he's going to vigorously appeal. Rahm is a fighter, and I'm sure -- as you know, he will be appealing to the Supreme Court, and I'm sure he will vigorously make that case."

Stephanopoulos pressed her asking, "Does he believe then -- so is it fair assume then that the president did believe that Rahm is eligible and the appeals court is wrong?"

Replied Jarrett, "Well, I think that he believes that he's eligible, and I believe that he believes that Rahm will pursue his appeal in the courts. And as he said then, he thinks Rahm would make a terrific mayor."