There were screams of joy and roaring applause in Rio de Janeiro as the city won the coveted bid to host the 2016 Olympics.   

But it was a crushing defeat for the United States.  Chicago was the first of the final four cities eliminated, despite a high-powered final push from President Obama, the First Lady, and the queen of daytime TV, Oprah.

The decision is a major blow to Obama, who flew overnight to stump for his hometown.  

After just five hours in Copenhagen, the President was back on Air Force One with Michelle; they were flying over the Atlantic when they learned that Chicago was the first city eliminated in the voting.

The conservative blog Drudge Report pounced on the defeat blaring, "The Ego Has Landed.  World Rejects Obama."  Obama's senior advisor David Axelrod rushed to defend the President's Olympic efforts: "We're disappointed it didn’t work out, but life goes on," he told reporters.