Former Vice President Al Gore staffer Chris Lehane said the expectations will be high for Obama’s trip: “If they don’t come back with the gold, clearly there will be the same questions that American basketball would get if they don’t come back with the gold — they are expected to win.”…

[T]he White House decided to go all in — calculating that Obama could also get blamed if he didn’t make the trip and Chicago’s bid fell short…

Gibbs also denied that Obama got a wink and a nod from the IOC that Chicago’s bid would be the victor if he shows — and several experts on the Olympic bids process say the inscrutable international process makes it very unlikely that the White House has any idea how the Chicago bid will fare…

“If Obama did not go to Copenhagen, Chicago would have no chance,” said Olympic historian Bill Mallon. “If he goes, Chicago moves into the favorite position, but it’s still too close to call.”