Is Obama's Mumbai visit in jeopardy?

The ongoing war of words between Barack Obama administration and United States Chamber of Commerce on the alleged use of foreign money by the latter to campaign against Democratic Party in the November mid-term polls could jeopardise an event of President Obama in Mumbai where he is expected to make his first stop on his maiden trip to India.

US India Business Council, a wing of US Chamber of Commerce, had announced that Obama has agreed to address the Business and Entrepreneurship Summit in Mumbai being organised by it on November 6 in partnership with the Department of Commerce and Confederation of Indian Industry. Officially, the trip is yet to be announced.

The summit to be attended by top corporate leaders from India and the US will highlight the benefits of export-led American growth being generated by India's rising economy and new purchasing power, the new investment flowing from India reviving American businesses, and the innovation by young entrepreneurs utilising US know-how and technology.

However, US Chamber of Commerce, a powerful American chamber which is the parent body of the USIBC, and the Obama administration are indulging in an unprecedented acrimonious exchange of words in the run up to November mid-term polls.

In a letter sent on Tuesday to the chamber's board of directors and its member companies, its president, Thomas J Donohue, accused Obama and his team of falsely accusing the chamber of illegally funneling foreign money to its political efforts.

"I challenge the Chamber of Commerce to tell us how much of the money they're investing is from foreign sources. I challenge them. If I'm wrong, I will stand corrected," US Vice President Joe Biden said.

"We accept the vice president's challenge here and now and are happy to provide our answer. Zero. As in, "not a single cent," said Blair W Latoff, spokesman of the US Chamber of Commerce. Donohue, who has repeatedly clashed with White House since Obama took office, in his letter accused him and Biden of operating without fact.

"It's sad to watch the White House stoop to these depths to try to salvage an election... That's clearly what this is all about. The administration and its Congressional allies are desperately trying to change the subject away from our stalled economy and nearly double-digit unemployment," he wrote.

US Chamber has launched a massive $75 million advertisement campaign in the run up to the election which political analysts believe is targeted against the Obama administration and his Democratic Party.

"We have tens of millions of special interest money coming into these campaigns and no record of where it's coming from and that should be a concern to every voter in this country," David Axelrod, senior advisor of Obama, told the ABC news in an interview.

Asserting that administration's latest attack on the US chamber is evidence of the need for continued opposition to the policies of Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress, Donohue said that the group will 'not be deterred' from participation in the political process.

"In fact, for the next three weeks leading up to election day you will see us ramp up efforts to educate voters about the positions of candidates of both parties who are committed to free enterprise and economic growth," he wrote.

"Simply disclose the identities of who funds all these ads. No longer hide behind the shroud of secrecy and anonymity. Simply tell us who you are. It'll probably pretty -- be pretty easy to figure out what your agenda is. But generally, people that are looking for that shroud of secrecy in keeping their name anonymous have something to hide," White House Press Secretary, Robert Gates, said as the administration intensified its attack against the US chamber.

In the midst of such an unprecedented exchange of words between the Obama administration and the US chamber, trip planners in the White House are now believed be having second thoughts on the Mumbai events, which is being organised by USIBC, a wing of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Both the White House and the USIBC refused to comment on the issue. A White House official said the programme of Obama in India has not been finalised yet. There was no response to an email sent to USIBC in this regard.