Posted: July 26, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s daughters, Malia and Sasha, visited the White House in 2005 and were bored with their VIP tour until President Bush’s dog Barney showed up and they played with him on the South Lawn, Michelle Obama told People magazine this week.
Obama also sheds light on the girls’ hectic routines, which include soccer, dance, and drama classes for 10-year-old Malia, and gymnastics and tap for 7-year-old Sasha.
And while the girls don’t have a dog of their own, Barack Obama has said that he plans to get the family’s first dog after the election – win or lose. The American Kennel Club even weighed in with suggested breeds based on the family’s lifestyle. Candidates for potential First Dog include the Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Poodle, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and Miniature Schnauzer.
If Obama wins, Malia and Sasha will be the youngest children to live in the White House in three decades. But don’t expect the girls to take center stage on TV. After “Access Hollywood” aired an impromptu interview with the Obama girls earlier this month, Obama expressed regret for having agreed to it. “I don’t think it’s healthy and it’s something that we’ll be avoiding in the future,” he later said.