IOC gets taste of Chicago's political muscle

COPENHAGEN-The International Olympic Committee got a taste this morning for the political muscle behind Chicago's bid — stretching from the Windy City to Washington D.C.

Just hours from picking a city for the 2016 Games, the 100-plus IOC members listened as Mayor Daley and Chicago's favorite adopted son, President Barack Obama, talk about their get-it-done city that has served as a springboard for national, if not global, political change.

Careful not to obviously pat themselves on the back, the mayor and the president — in their own inimitable styles — talked about Chicago as a forceful entity.

"In Chicago, we don't just talk about what we will do, we do it," a forceful Daley said, noting his 20 years in office.

Obama danced lightly, too, never mentioning he's the first African American elected president. But he did say it was a new day in America — where the welcome mat is out for a global event like the Olympics.

"Nearly one year ago, on a clear November night, people from every corner of the world gathered in the city of Chicago or in front of their televisions to watch the results of the U.S. Presidential election," Obama said.

"So I urge you to choose Chicago. I urge you to choose America. And if you do — if we walk this path together— then I promise you this: the city of Chicago and the United States of America will make the world proud."