Latest Rahm campaign tactic out of this world

• Reprints

Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Rahm ’em . . .

Mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel has connections in outer space — and plans to prove it to voters.

†Translation: Watch for Emanuel to shake hands in 50 wards within the next 50 hours — and hand out photos of Chicago from outer space.

†To wit: The pics were sent to Rahm from astronaut Mark Kelly, who is married to assassination survivor Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

†Back check: The pics were taken last week from the orbiting International Space Station, where Kelly’s brother Scott — who is also an astronaut — is assigned for another month.

†Check up: “Rahm, who is a close friend of Giffords and recruited her to run for Congress, has been checking with Mark frequently about his wife’s recovery,” said Rahm spokesman Ben LaBolt. “And Scott sent the photos to Mark to pass onto Rahm.”

Beam me up, Scottie.

Chico coo . . .

Mayoral hopeful Gery Chico’s wife, Sunny, gave her husband a red tie and a red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles for a little Valentine’s Day good luck before the WTTW debate Monday night. Did it help?

Ai!

Mayoral hopeful Miguel del Valle and Emanuel stopped by 42 North Latitude in Lincoln Square at separate intervals last week, and a Sneed source claims del Valle was a better tipper.

A Suri thing . . .

Actress Katie Holmes, wife of actor Tom Cruise, and daughter, Suri dined at posh RL eatery Friday night — accompanied by a nanny, two security guards and three other women.

†The kicker: The svelte Holmes ate a cheddar cheeseburger and a banana split (hooray!) and hung out for 45 minutes after paying the check. (Holmes was in town for an exclusive premiere of her clothing line, Holmes & Yang, at Barney’s Saturday.)

Taylor Talk . . .

Sneed hears actress Elizabeth Taylor, who had been basically bedridden before her recent hospitalization for congestive heart failure ... loves being taken to her garden frequently to see her flowers and has a replica of one of her famous jewels — given to her by actor/late former husband Richard Burton — wrapped around a staircase knob in her California home. Or was Sneed just smoking posies when told this a while back?

A brit bit . . .

What a surprise: Britain’s Prince William has asked his brother, Prince Harry, to be the best man at his wedding to Kate Middleton — and it’s making headlines in England. Must be a slow news day.

Bee Gee Glee . . .

Tinseltown tittle tattle: Mega movie mogul Steven Spielberg is in the planning stages of a film about the Bee Gees, and word is Bee Gee Robin Gibb, brother of Bee Gees Maurice and Barry, is hoping actor John Travolta would play the role of their band leader father, Hugh, according to Brit wag Richard Kay. Huh?

I Spy . . .

Czech President Václav Klaus knocking back a few cocktails at the RL bar Sunday with Secret Service agents stationed nearby . . . Gov. Pat Quinn and his sweetheart Monica Walker spotted at former White House advisor David Axelrod’s surprise welcome home party tossed by son, Grant Park Global’s Michael, at Billy’s Marovitz’s Carnivale eatery Friday night. Also in attendance: Jim and Eve Tyree, Mellody Hobson, John Rogers, Lester Crown, Lisa Madigan and hubby, Pat Byrne and every top hat supporter of Rahm Emanuel for mayor — including Rahm Emanuel.

Sneedlings . . .

Today’s birthdays: Jane Seymour, 60; Melissa Manchester, 60, and Matt Groening, 57.