2016 Summer Olympics as Obama Farewell Bash?

– 'W.H. lobbies for Olympics in Chicago,' by POLITICO's Kenneth P. Vogel: 'The Obama White House is playing an unprecedented role in the bid to bring the 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago, with top adviser Valerie Jarrett spearheading an effort that draws on the international symbolism of his presidency. ... [T]he emerging effort by the White House is unusually pointed in its attempt to wrap the campaign around the president and his appealing image abroad - a strategy veteran Olympics watchers say is paying dividends and could result in an enormous hometown farewell party if Obama wins a second term. 'Without Obama in the White House, I would say there would be no chance whatsoever for the U.S. winning,' said Canadian IOC member Dick Pound. 'The United States is the only country in this race that has had an absolutely extraordinary transformational experience with the election of Obama, which weighs very heavily in its favor.' ... Obama ... has recorded two separate videos supporting the bid since his election as president, one for presentation to the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee in Istanbul less than three weeks after defeating Republican John McCain, and a second that was shown to IOC members during a tour of Chicago last month.'

Source: Mike Allen's Politico Playbook Daily Update