Obamas Can't Check in Early to White House Guest Pad

President-elect told he can't move into official guest house early
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 13, 2008 6:31 AM CST
Obamas Can't Check in Early to White House Guest Pad
President-elect Barack Obama, right, and his wife Michelle Obama, left, arrive at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church to attend a funeral service, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Washington's hotels are booked solid for January and the Obamas have joined those struggling to find a place to stay, the New York Times reports. The president-elect and his wife had hoped to move into Blair House, the official White House guest house, in time for the girls to start their new school Jan. 5.  But the Bush administration has told them it won't be available until January 15—just 5 days before the inauguration.

The White House declined to say who would be using Blair House in early January or why they should take precedence over the president-elect and his family. The transition team—which stresses there are no hard feelings over the issue—is now searching for another option that would let the Obamas make the move from Chicago in time for their daughters to join their new classmates after the holiday break.
(More White House stories.)

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