Hope-enhagen: How Obama's Decision Affects Mayor Daley

By Kevin Robinson in News on Sep 17, 2009 2:00PM

Mayor Daley's pilgrimage to the south lawn of the White House Wednesday appeared to clear up what has been the subject of much speculation of late: will Obama be going to Copenhagen? The answer: no. That's bad news for Mayor Daley; while it's still plausible that Chicago will get the games (or that the always politically shrewd Barack Obama will show up in Copenhagen anyway) without the American president, and potentially millions of federal dollars in security, logistics and infrastructure, Rio's bid is looking especially attractive.

Daley, who has not only bet his mayoralty on Chicago getting the 2016 Summer Games, but has also mortgaged the city to make the bid possible, stands to turn around his sagging popularity and poll numbers, seal his legacy and expand his clout exponentially all in one fell swoop if Chicago is named the host city for 2016. The prestige, (both real and imagined), the contracts and the jobs that come with hosting the Olympics, and the power to hand them out to friends and allies, will all but seal his next two terms as mayor. He may be vulnerable now, but once construction on venues gets moving he'll be virtually untouchable, as big city mayors go. The federal dismantling of the Chicago Machine, the city's budget crunch and the job cuts that go with, and the voter outrage surrounding the parking meter fiasco will all seem like minor annoyances, no longer an obstacle to his re-election. Aldermen and civic leaders will line up behind him, hoping for a piece of the Olympic action that is sure to come through the pipeline. Daley will ride a swelling tide of city pride, international recognition and local clout to quite possibly his easiest re-election.

Of course, with Barack Obama fighting for his own political legacy and the centerpiece social legislation of his presidency keeping him grounded in the District and politically unable to commit more federal spending to his hometown, Chicago's bid doesn't look nearly as strong as it did just a few days ago. If on October 2 the IOC awards the 2016 Summer Games to a city other than Chicago, Daley's days as mayor appear to be numbered. The hoard of cash sitting in the TIF slush fund, reduced city services and voter anger at the mismanagement of the leasing of city assets, as well as Daley's hobbled political organization make him a sitting duck in the cross hairs of savvy and ambitious local politicians eying the corner office of City Hall's Fifth Floor. In that case, Daley may announce his retirement, take his Rolodex and shill for the private sector, jetting off to Europe every time Maggie says "Richie, remember the time we went to...." It would be unprecedented for a Chicago mayor, but Daley's always prided himself on being a trendsetter.

All of which means that watching the President of the United States fence with a toy light saber on the lawn of the White House may be the best retirement party Mayor Daley has.