Organizers of the Philadelphia 2016 Olympic bid don't have to look too far -- in time or place -- to realize how important public support is for the bid's well-being.
Community reaction was one of the foremost factors that doomed New York's 2012 bid, which eventually went to London.
So far, Philadelphia doesn't have to worry about the same problem.
In a telephone survey of 1,010 city and suburban households released by the Center City-based Melior Group, 81 percent of those surveyed expressed support of the bid.
"This is overwhelming positive support from the community for this effort, and this is great news," said Alba Martinez, who co-chairs the Community Engagement Committee -- one of Philadelphia 2016's 11 committees.
The number is nearly identical to the 2005 figure of 83 percent. The highest support comes from Hispanics (94 percent) and African-Americans (91 percent). The 81 percent is just above the 79 percent mark just released by the competing Chicago delegation.
Philadelphia is in a battle to become the first American city to host the Summer Games since Atlanta in 1996. But first thing's first. In order to even be considered by the International Olympic Committee for the final vote in 2009, Philadelphia must get by two obstacles.
First, the United States Olympic Committee, led by former Major League Baseball commissioner and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics organizer Peter Ueberroth, must decide to submit a bid for 2016.
"We take them at their word that if there weren't at least reasonable-to-good prospects, they wouldn't be going through this themselves and they wouldn't be putting us through this," Philadelphia 2016 co-chair Joseph Torsella said.
And even if the committee does bid for the games, Philadelphia must beat out Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Last month, a delegation headed by Torsella, Comcast vice president David Cohen and Temple women's basketball coach and former Olympian Dawn Staley made a 30-minute presentation to the USOC stating its case.
"We couldn't have been more pleased with the presentation we made -- with the reception we got," Torsella said.
One man who was not in La Jolla, Calif., for the presentation was Mayor John Street, which made Philadelphia the only delegation that did not include the city's top official. According to Torsella, this did not hurt one bit and the mayor is behind the effort to bring the games to Philadelphia.
"I think that's been widely misinterpreted," Torsella said. "He made the decision not to go because of some personal conflicts."
Even with the support of the mayor and the majority of the region, Philadelphia faces a difficult task of convincing America and then the world of its worthiness.
However, given New York's recent debacle, convincing the locals can be the hardest task of all.
With economic impact analysis and venue and transit specifics scheduled to be released before the summer's end, Philadelphia 2016 could get a look at how the 81 percent in favor will handle seeing a price tag for the first time.
