Obamania

Mr. Obama Goes to Washington

Hotel stay after Bush rebuke.

Barack Obama may not assume the presidency for another two weeks, but he arrived in Washington, D.C. last night: He had to get his girls ready for their new school this morning. Obama told reporters he "choked up" at bidding Chicago adieu before departing for Washington, where he is staying at the Hay-Adams Hotel, on the other side of Lafayette Square from the White House. The Obama family's request to stay at the Blair House, a guest house across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, was rebuked by President Bush, who claimed the house was already booked. Obama was greeted both by adoring fans and protesters angry about the Gaza Strip.