CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is hitting the campaign trail for his friend and former boss, President Barack Obama.

In a meeting with reporters Thursday, Emanuel said he will do "whatever it takes" to help Obama defeat Republican Mitt Romney. That will include campaign stops in Florida, Ohio and other parts of the Midwest, Emanuel Spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said.

Emanuel served as Obama's chief of staff before he ran for mayor. He was a national co-chairman of the president's re-election campaign until early September when he stepped down from that role to help raise money for Priorities USA Action, a pro-Obama super PAC.