Anna Wintour 'leading contender to be America's UK ambassador' It is common for US presidents to reward donors with ambassadorships in the world's most desirable postings. Louis Susman, the current US envoy to Britain, was a Chicago-based investment banker and "bundler" - a fundraiser who gathers donations from others - for Mr Obama's campaign in 2008 before becoming ambassador. Mr Obama also appointed Pittsburgh Steelers football team owner Dan Rooney to Ireland, and Charles Rivkin, the former chief executive of Muppets creator Jim Henson Co, to France. With few exceptions, political appointees serve one term, which would mean a changing of the guard soon after Mr Obama's second inauguration in January. Despite promises in 2008 to cut down the number of political appointees, Mr Obama has in fact chosen slightly more than the 30 per cent average for envoys drawn from outside the career foreign service, said Susan Johnson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association. In his first term, Obama nominated 59 ambassadors, including 40 bundlers, who lacked experience in the diplomatic corps. "When he ran for election in 2008, on several occasions, Obama declared his intent to appoint more career people, and that has not actually happened," said Ms Johnson. Our expectations were lifted, only to be dashed by reality. Ms Wintour is "clearly an intelligent, energetic, capable, attractive, elegant person," Ms Johnson said, "but having experience in the practice of diplomacy and international relations is really a great advantage." Ambassadors" positions in most Western European capitals, come with some of the cities" grandest residences, and London is no exception. Sold to the American government for $1 by Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton after World War II, the official residence has a sweeping lawn that leads into Regent's Park. Mr Obama held his first meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao at Winfield house in April of 2009 and hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for a banquet there as part of the president's state visit in May 2011.