What if Chicago Bid Fails?

Is the Obamas’ in-person bid for the 2016 Olympics proactive or not worth the risk? While the president’s presence will undoubtedly increase Chicago’s chances of winning the summer games--Obama will be the first U.S. president to make an in-person speech--if such a grand gesture fails, it could harm his political clout. “You’re darned if you do, and you’re darned if you don’t,” Michelle Obama, who will also go to Copenhagen for the pitch, told reporters Monday. “I’d rather be on the side of doing it, and I think that’s how the president feels.” Chicago’s biggest threat is considered to be Rio de Janeiro, though good chances have also been predicted for Madrid and Tokyo. The decision comes Friday.