Kelly Baerwaldt, a fisheries biologist and Asian carp program manager for the Army Corps who supports the alternative-source theory, said the new report didn't change her mind.
The final decision was made Monday night, while the candidate's family was on the phone with senior strategists John Brabender, longtime adviser Mark Rodgers, campaign manager Mike Biundo and just a few others, the source said.
And although Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long-time admirer of Cole, a senior club source at Old Trafford said he would not be making a summer move to sign him.