Barak - blunder or bonus?

At the request of Henry Kissinger, a bid team member, Barak Obama has apparently personally written to FIFA President Sepp Blatter imploring him to award the 2018 World Cup finals to the United States. Given that the US only last held the tournament in 1994, doesn't such a move represent undue and unfair pressure? Or is high level support an important and necessary part of the sporting mega-event bid process as it demonstrates a country's commitment to hosting these events?