BEIJING (AFP) — Should Barack Obama win the US presidential election it would be a huge plus for Chicago's bid to win the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, its bid chief told AFP.
Pat Ryan said that both Obama and his Republican rival John McCain were supporting the bid as indeed had President George W Bush and his father former president George Bush.
However, Ryan admitted that being a senator for Illinois Obama could not but help if he were elected in November to succeed the younger Bush.
"All the presidential candidates supported our bid," Ryan told AFP.
"Obviously if you have a hometown kid as president it has its advantages.
"In fact Senator Obama lives three blocks from what would be the main stadium," added Ryan.
However, a well placed IOC source also told AFP that were McCain to be elected it could come at a heavy price for Chicago's hopes as he is not fondly remembered by many IOC members for chairing the Congressional hearings on the Salt Lake City corruption scandal over how they won the 2002 Winter Games.
McCain's committee eventually accused the IOC of creating a 'culture of corruption'.
"There is a lot of bitterness among IOC members towards McCain," said the source.
"Several have come up to me and said that were McCain to be elected they would not be voting for Chicago.
"The IOC may have changed in many ways since he held his hearings but their attitude towards him and the rancour and the bitterness towards him runs deep."
Another major source of political support comes from Mayor Richard Daley, who was responsible for bringing Ryan on board.
"Mayor Daley and I go way back," said Ryan, who made his name as a businessman by creating the global insurance giant AON.
"He rang me one day and he asked me to come over to his office.
"He asked me to lead the bid and I said I would so long as he answered two questions. First how committed he was to the candidacy and he replied he was heavily committed and secondly could we sort out the problem over building the main stadium.
"This had been a crucial problem for New York when they bid for the 2012 Games (they came fourth) and for our rivals for the American nomination San Francisco.
"However, we called on architects and engineers to come up with a plan and the architects especially produced an economically feasible plan."
Ryan said that Daley, who has been city mayor since 1989, had only made three requests of him as regarding the bid.
"Mayor Daley wanted a diverse committee to reflect the different communities in the city. He wanted us to emphasise the environment and green policies and that Chicago was the most accessible city in the United States for handicapped people.
"Apart from that he has left us alone."
Ryan, who hails from Wisconsin originally, refused to accept that Chicago was still seen as the front runner in a race that also has Madrid, 1964 hosts Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro as candidates with the final decision taken in Copenhagen in September next year.
"It really boils down to how much you want it (the Games)," said Ryan.
"I don't think there is a frontrunner. My mantra is be humble and don't assume anything."
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