Bush gives Obama White House tour

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US president-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have arrived at the White House for a visit, their first since last week’s landslide election victory.

President George W Bush and first lady Laura Bush greeted the Obamas, who arrived 11 minutes early on a sunny fall day with moderate temperatures and colourful - but fading - autumn leaves.

Their arrival had the look of a foreign head-of-state state visit - although there were no fife and drum bands, speeches or official pageantry.

he Obamas stepped out of a black limousine and were welcomed by the Bushes and escorted into the Executive Mansion that they’ll call home in a little more than two months.

Television pictures then showed Bush and Obama walking and talking along the White House portico, pausing for pictures before entering the Oval Office.

It was Obama’s first time in the presidential chamber, marking the formal start of America’s intricate minuet of transition from one president to the next.

Bush allowed Obama to enter the historic office first as the 43rd and 44th US presidents prepared for a private talk about the challenges of leading a nation freighted in this hand-over of power by a severe economic downturn and two wars.

The country’s troubles fall to Obama when he takes office on January 20.

Bush, who had endorsed Republican John McCain, lauded Obama’s victory as a “triumph of the American story”, as he issued a warm invitation for the next president and his wife, Michelle, to their future home.

Obama will be the country’s first black president and takes office with fellow Democrats firmly in control of the White House and both houses of Congress.

AP

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