@Alexis,
Partly I think that Obama got sent to Washington to get him out of Chicago. Both Mayor Daley’s and Jesse Jackson’s et al old line black power interests were served. Very few of them would want to see him try for City Hall. Obama might be induced to run for the Governorship in Springfield. That would be a landmine for him. Almost all the downside of the Presidency and few of the benefits. True the State House does not come with much risk of nuclear war but Obama’s ego is so big he doesn’t consider that. After one governor got brought down by associating with the same corrupt crowd Obama represents it would be a hard sell. Any job that is a real job is hard to see him in. Obama would be a natural for UN Secretary General.