As Presidential 'Bubble' Closes, Obama Pokes Back

There's a growing gaggle of press and Secret Service standing between Barack Obama and the outside world—not to mention the corner hotdog stand—and the president-elect is showing signs that the presidential "bubble" is wearing on him, Politico reports. Obama ditched the pool of reporters assigned to follow him on Friday, taking his daughters to a nearby water park unannounced.

When the reporters caught up, Obama appeared mildly cranky, informing a Washington Post reporter that he “didn’t really need” to document his lunch order (tuna melt on 12-grain bread, duly noted). Bill Clinton famously chafed against the restrictions of the office, but Obama’s meteoric rise has meant that his family has had to adjust that much quicker: “You don't have a lot of privacy," Obama told a group of grade-school kids.
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