Rahm Emanuel at North Park Village, on Peterson near Central Park, on Feb. 21, 2011. In background, against the wall, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and husband, pollster Stan Greenberg. Man in suit taking notes, Abdon M. Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times (photo by Lynn Sweet)

Stan Greenberg, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, at Feb. 21 Emanuel event at North Park Village (photo by Lynn Sweet)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is polling Chicagoans--about himself, President Obama, former Mayor Daley, whether to blame the Tea Party for Chicago's fiscal woes, while gathering intelligence about what budget cuts are most likely to win public support.

The Chicago Sun-Times polling scoop is by political writer Abdon M. Pallasch; his report includes details about the survey by Emanuel's longtime pollsters, Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research. Emanuel used the firm for his House race and while he helmed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Founder Stan Greenberg and wife Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Ct.) are close personal friends of Emanuel. Emanuel lived for a time in the basement of their Capitol Hill home.

The Greenberg firm polled for Emanuel's mayoral contest and went on to handle polling for Emanuel's political operation, the New Chicago Committee, run by Tom Bowen. So far, according to records I just checked at the Illinois State Board of Elections, the Committee paid the Greenberg firm $62,700, all in March, before Emanuel was sworn in a mayor in May. Bowen also paid another polling firm in March, $15,000 to Anzalone Liszt Research, Inc.

What Rahm wants to know about Rahm: Those questions included, Pallasch reports,

◆ "Emanuel is too ready to raise taxes."

◆ "Emanuel is out of touch with regular people."

◆ "Emanuel cares more about downtown than the neighborhoods."

INTERESTING RAHM INTEL: Emanuel's political shop also paid $10,000 to 3rd Coast Research, 3130 W. Fullerton run by Will Caskey.

From the website: "3rd Coast Research provides candidates and private interests with research, rapid response and communications support. The firm has research experience with Democratic campaigns in federal, state and local elections. Additionally, 3rd Coast Research has worked with corporations, labor unions and interest groups on policy research, competitive intelligence and public affairs."

READ THE COMPLETE SUN-TIMES PALLASCH STORY HERE