Obama advisor says First Lady will see many IOC members

American First Lady Michelle ObamaMichelle Obama will have one-on-one meetings with a "lengthy" list of IOC members in Copenhagen in support of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics, a presidential advisor said on Wednesday.

Advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, who has accompanied the president's wife to the Danish capital, said there would be intensive lobbying before Friday's vote by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"We will have as many as we can possibly see in the time allotted," she told reporters. "We have a pretty lengthy line-up. She enjoys tremendous popularity internationally."

Chicago is up against Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo in the running for the right to stage the 2016 Games with Chicago seen as a marginal favorite in one of the closest contests ever.

"We do not take a single vote for granted," Jarrett said.

"The one-on-one meetings are very important in a small setting like this," she added, alluding to the small hotel room adorned with Chicago photos and memorabilia where the meetings would take place.

"We want to show we really do have that passion. The president has been involved since day one he has been briefed on a regular basis."

Jarrett said she did not agree that the president, who will arrive early on Friday and join his wife at the IOC presentation in which both will speak, was spending too much time away from the Oval Office.

"He is spending the night on the airplane. This is not a significant time commitment. I believe this is time well spent," she added.

One-on-one meetings with IOC members have acquired added importance since then British Prime Minister Tony BlairTony Blair had dozens of such meetings just before the 2005 vote in Singapore for the 2012 Games.

Blair's role was widely seen as crucial to the successful outcome for London, which beat favorite Paris. French president Jacques ChiracJacques Chirac also spent time in Singapore but did not hold one-on-ones.