Chicago was first up this morning, with the Obamas leading the pitch. A decision is expected 17.30 British time. The Windy City is favourite although it's in a close race with Rio De Janeiro (Madrid is also a contender).
Should Obama have gone? Most commentators I've read seem to think not. It's certainly a gamble, and not a necessary one. So why did he? Whilst everyone speculates about the byzantine politics of the IOC, allow me to indulge in some baseless speculation about internal White House politics.As Robert Draper's brilliant portrait of Valerie Jarrett a few months ago made clear for the first time, there is considerable tension between her and the other key members of Obama's team, including Rahm and Axelrod. Jarrett, because she's such a good friend of both Obamas, can get the president's ear on just about any topic she wants, at any time. That sort of roving brief is most unsettling for the other senior aides. She's also a very strong-minded woman who sees herself, as one knowledgeable observer puts it, as the "keeper of the flame": the one member of Obama's inner circle who is focused on keeping him real, keeping him to his promises, not allowing him to sucked into Washington games. That's bound to create friction with everyone else.
The Olympic bid has been Jarrett's project. She's been running a special unit devoted to it from inside the White House, the first time a presidency has devoted so much effort to such a bid. Jarrett, of course, breathes and bleeds Chicago - she's passionate about it, as are the Obamas - particularly Michelle of course, who grew up there and associates it with her parents (she mentioned her late father in this morning's speech to the committee). Also, American bids have to be entirely financed privately, and Jarrett is peerlessly well-connected in Chicago's business community.
Jarrett will have been the one who persuaded Obama that it was worth betting some presidential capital on this and making the trip. And I suspect that she did so against the advice of Rahm and Ax, who are probably thinking that with Afghanistan, healthcare, and the economy all at high levels of intensity, this is a gamble the president can do without.
If Chicago loses, Obama's team won't blame it on Rio; they'll blame it on Jarrett.
(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
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