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WASHINGTON--White House chief of staff Bill Daley said for the first time that he told President Obama he would serve only through the 2012 election when he took the job last January.

He made his comment on Friday to WMAQ channel 5 reporter Mary Ann Ahern.

"I made a commitment to the president through his re-election, which I am confident he will do, and then my wife and I will be back in Chicago," Daley said.

Daley took over from interim chief of staff Pete Rouse after now Mayor Rahm Emanuel left the chief of staff job last year to run for Chicago mayor. Daley told Ahern the job is "all consuming."

There have been several stories in recent weeks about struggles Daley has faced with Congress and within the White House. "Nobody can hit the ground running," Daley said.