Well given that the US has hosted the Olympics numerous times and Brazil nor any other South American country for that matter ever has, it seems like it was in the cards...Especially with the economic climate in Brazil being on the up (more than Obama can say for the US).
I think the surprise comes from our american sense of entitlement - not sure I would have bet highly on Chicago winning
Obama did what he needed to do to satisfy his Chicago supporters...not sure there was much more he could have done to sway it.
Im going out for Churrascaria and Capriana's tonight