NBC's Natalie Morales, on Wednesday's "Today," was bowled over by the First Couple's "tag-teaming" effort to lure the Olympics to their home city of Chicago. Reporting live from Copenhagen, Morales cheered that "it doesn't get any better in terms of PR blitzes than this," and effused the First Lady was "turning on the charm, as only she can."
"Today" co-anchor Matt Lauer introduced the segment touting the "star-studded campaign" led by the Obamas and Oprah Winfrey, as Morales called that combo a "one, two, three punch" that would require "a secret weapon," for the likes of other competing countries, like Brazil and Japan, to counter. Morales ended her report noting "the glitz will be on once again in full," as the First Lady is expected appear at a gala, that Morales giddily wished to attend: "I'm hoping I get a red carpet ticket today, at least, for that event."
The following segment was aired on the October 1, "Today" show:
MATT LAUER: On a much lighter note, we turn now to the star-studded campaign to bring the 2016 Olympic games to Chicago. President Obama heads to Copenhagen, Denmark, later today. He will join his wife and some other heavy hitters who are already there pushing for the Windy City. "Today's" national correspondent Natalie Morales is also in Copenhagen. Natalie, good morning to you.
NATALIE MORALES: And good morning to you, Matt. You know, it doesn't get any better in terms of PR blitzes than this. The President and First Lady tag-teaming here to help boost Chicago's chances for that Olympic bid, and it looks like it may be working. The red carpet is out in Copenhagen, ready to greet the world's power players, a full-on ground invasion to try and gain those crucial votes in the close race between host city hopefuls Chicago, Rio, Tokyo and Madrid. First to arrive for Chicago, Michelle Obama-
MICHELLE OBAMA: Chicago is a wonderful host city, great people, great facilities. It knows about sports. And the hospitality is like no other, and it's a city that works really well.
MORALES: -turning on the charm, as only she can, with the voting members of the International Olympic Committee.
MICHELLE OBAMA: I'm gonna go talk to some voters.
MORALES: The other "O" in town - Oprah.
OPRAH WINFREY: I love this city! This city has given, it really gave birth and life to me. I mean my, my greatest successes came from this city.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Barack Obama, he's the key partner?
WINFREY: Oh he's our team captain.
REPORTER: Yes?
WINFREY: Yes.
MORALES: President Obama will only be on the ground in Copenhagen for all of four hours Friday.
BARACK OBAMA: I'll sleep on the plane, I'll land, I'll speak, then I'll fly right back.
MORALES: Long enough, though, to make what will be the final campaign speech for Chicago. Odds-makers in London are betting on Chicago as the favorite.
ROBIN HUTCHINSON, LADBROKES BOOKMAKERS: It looks like a two-horse race as far as we're concerned, and Chicago just the favorites at the moment.
MORALES: Also vying for top billing, Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, already a major tourist destination. President Lula da Silva arriving to make his case that Rio is ready to shine with its booming economy. Geography plays in its favor, a point soccer star Pele is here to make.
PELE: ...Chicago, but we never have it in South America.
MORALES: Madrid and Tokyo are also bringing their top guns. King Juan Carlos of Spain and the newly elected prime minister of Japan, Yukio Hatoyama. But that may still not be enough. What's their secret weapon to beat out the Obamas?
YUKIO HATOYAMA THROUGH TRANSLATOR: I can't tell you.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: The Obama factor is very important in this race. Chicago, are they guaranteed to win with Obama there? No, definitely not, but the chances are much greater now.
MORALES: It will be a one, two, three punch. Michelle, Oprah, with President Obama hoping to seal the deal. And I can tell you, the First Lady has already been very hard at work today meeting with the IOC president as well as voting members, trying to sway their votes, perhaps. But later tonight the glitz will be on once again in full, as she's expected to attend a reception, at a gala reception tonight at the opera house. Matt?
LAUER: Are you gonna stick around, Natalie? Will we see you there tomorrow?
MORALES: Absolutely. I'm hoping I get a red carpet ticket today, at least, for that event.
LAUER: Alright, good luck. We'll check in with you in 24 hours as the world waits to find out this news.
MEREDITH VIEIRA: Yeah, it's a real fight there.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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"Honey do's"
October 1, 2009 - 11:07 ET by CarlosSAfghanistan is exploding, the economy is tanking, Obama-care is floundering..., and where in the world is Obama. He's doing a "honey-do" for Michelle in Denmark :-(
Ditto Carlos
October 1, 2009 - 11:35 ET by cajun2I totally agree except for a minor adjustment. The honey-do is not for Michelle, its for Valarie.
and NBC is looking at
October 1, 2009 - 12:48 ET by allanfanother business opportunity, the 2016 Olympics
got something right
October 1, 2009 - 11:29 ET by jon_torlinI find the "Obama Olympic Charm" offensive. No question there.
-Jon
I want to know how much
October 1, 2009 - 13:07 ET by celatorI want to know how much bribery money and promised "special" favors the Obamas are offering to the Olympic Committee to pick Chicago. Maybe Morales will do that story next.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Hmmm...
October 1, 2009 - 16:27 ET by mvfreemanI would guess no more than any other country that wants to host the Olympics.
Even Bush was lobbying for it...
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080107-3.html
Let Us Worship!
October 1, 2009 - 13:29 ET by Meredith1966"...as the world waits to find out this news."
What news? I'm of the grassy-knoll conspiracy theory that the fix is already in and the only reason President Obama is over there is to pretend it's not so he can then take credit for this momentous achievement. Phlllppptt. And, to pick nits, is the world really waiting to find out this news, or is just select elements in Chicago, Wash. DC, Rio, Tokyo, and Madrid? Also New York if you count the Obama Media Sycophants. Personally, who gives a rip where they are, but because of all this BS I'm pulling for anywhere except Chicago. Just can't resist the chance to poke the Prez with a sharp stick sometimes... :-)
"The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately." - Calvin Coolidge
Let's take a step back in history -
October 1, 2009 - 15:47 ET by BO STINKSAnyone remember when Klinton bombed the aspirin factory in order to distract from Lewinski-gate? Sounds like a simplistic attempt to 'play' POTUS to me.
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!" Sam Adams
Natalie Morales
October 1, 2009 - 18:28 ET by UnsaneJust goes to show that physical appearance - Natalie Morales is pretty damn hot, if you ask me - is not assurance of quality. Like Norah O'Donnell, there isn't a whole lot of critical thinking, or thinking at all, that goes on upstairs, with her.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
the media liberal bias
October 1, 2009 - 19:22 ET by WatchesThe story is packed with lies. The President of the United States of America is a nobody, so he can't be part of a "PR blitz". He is not a "star", and neither is his wife or Oprah. Michelle Obama certainly cannot be charming. Even if any of that were true, the Olympics can't offer anything good for America (look how much damage it did to China's reputation).
Only liberal bias could explain those claims. Makes me want to barf.
Hey Natalie..
October 1, 2009 - 20:11 ET by svh83The seventies called; they want their hat back.
"I think you'd better call John, 'cause it don't look they're here to deliver...the mail". -NY
Please, oh please...
October 1, 2009 - 21:05 ET by TeamcheeserPlease, please, please, give the Olympics to Rio or Cabo, or wherever. I want to see this "Dream Team" strike out swinging.
Then let's see if they are good sports.
If Chicago loses the Olympics, look for "The Obama Games 2011, Live From Chicago" Cuba, Iran, and the U.S. versus Alaska!
Incredible...the
October 1, 2009 - 21:09 ET by RR GOPIncredible...the financially strapped MSM is actually flying people over to friggin Denmark to cover this?
Guess they can't get their noses out of the Obamas' behinds for even a few days.
So unreal.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
too bad
October 1, 2009 - 22:11 ET by enchantedoneobama won't fight as hard for assistance for the troops in afghanistan. only a blind person (and perhaps not) couldn't see this is payback for all of the thugs that have paid obama's way to the WH. He couldn't care less about the people of the U.S. totally disgusting. maybe he'll like it so much, he'll stay there. (one can only hope)