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UPDATE 1/05 1:10 AM
Obama has a full agenda this week in Washington, from meetings with Congressional leaders on his $675 billion to $775 billion stimulus plan to naming more members of his administration, reports the AP:
Obama has a busy week ahead of him. On Monday, after his girls leave for their first day of classes at the private Sidwell Friends School, he has a meeting planned with Democratic and Republican leaders to discuss the stimulus plan aimed at jolting the economy out of the worst recession since the Great Depression. On Wednesday, he's scheduled to attend lunch at the White House with former presidents...
In addition to finding a replacement for Richardson, Obama also has some other high-profile members of his administration to name, including a director of national intelligence and a CIA director. Robert Gibbs, Obama's top spokesman, told reporters he anticipated those posts to be named soon.
UPDATE 1/05 12:30 AM
When Obama arrived in Washington on Sunday night, there were no ceremonies or official welcoming committees, reports the Washington Post, but he was still greeted by crowds of people ranging from cheering well-wishers to angry protesters:
With a brief glance out his car window -- barely visible through cordons of Secret Service officers, black SUVs and security barricades -- the soon-to-be leader of the free world bid a brief hello last night to the town he will now call home and to his new neighbors: scores of spectators camped outside his temporary quarters at the Hay-Adams Hotel...
His limousine pulled up to claps and cheers from crowds lining the blocks near the hotel and also the cries of protesters angry about the Gaza Strip -- a reminder of the vexing problems he will face when he takes office. Then, in seconds, he was whisked inside.
Barack Obama landed in Washington, DC on Sunday, joining his family at the Hay Adams hotel the day after they arrived.
Taking off from Chicago's Midway and landing at Andrews Air Force Base, Obama flew in an Air Force 757 and greeted airport personnel at either end.
PHOTOS:
Here is the pool report from Obama's farewell to Chicago, which, he admitted, left him "choked up":
President-elect Barack Obama arrived in DC at AFB at 7pm EST after leaving Midway airport at 4:45 pm CST.
He left his Hyde Park house at about 4pm and arrived at Midway about 30 minutes later.
As he boarded plane, he waved to press and said he would see us in DC. He came to back of plane and said the following:
"Well guys, I am looking forward to seeing you guys in Washington.....I gotta say I choked up a little bit leaving my house today."
...." Malia's friend had dropped off an album of the two of them together. They had been friends since pre-school and I just looked through the pages and the house was empty and it was a little tough, it got me."
He ordered a cheeseburger on the plane, which is aBoeing 757 with big leather seats. He met Col. Scott Turner, who will be his Air Force One pilot.
Obama said he had taken a government plane before. Said Michelle and the girls were "having fun" and that he was looking forward to going to Washington.
"Although living in a hotel for two weeks, we kind of did that for two years."
Nia-Malika HendersonStaff WriterPOLITICO