“Rahm is nearing a decision on whether to leave the White House and explore a run for mayor of Chicago — an announcement could come as early as Friday,” said a person close to Emanuel. “Because of family considerations, no final decision has been made.”

Emanuel is still assessing his chances and the impact a campaign might have on his wife and young children, sources say. But the need to begin planning for a potentially tough Democratic primary on the ground — coupled with President Barack Obama’s desire to move beyond the speculation swirling around Emanuel — is moving him closer to the door.

If Emanuel leaves, Obama’s senior adviser Pete Rouse is expected to temporarily replace him until a permanent replacement can be tapped after the November midterms.

Earlier this month, Obama said he hoped the 50-year-old former congressman would stay at the helm through the midterms. But the distraction caused by Emanuel’s very public courting of Chicago Democrats — and the announcement of senior advisor David Axelrod’s decision to join Obama’s reelection campaign in Chicago next spring — increased pressure on Emanuel to decide sooner rather than later.

On Monday, Obama told Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today” that Emanuel needed to move quickly if he plans to jump into the Feb. 22 primary.

“I think that Rahm will have to make a decision quickly because running for mayor of Chicago is a serious enterprise. And I know this is something he’s thinking about,” Obama said.

Asked whether he would endorse Emanuel, the president, smiled and added that he’d already gone public with his opinion that Emanuel would make “an excellent” mayor.

“But until he makes a decision, I’m not going to be making decisions about how I’m going to approach it,” Obama added.