Obama sets record in news conferences

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By Christina Bellantoni

In the 22 days since winning the White House, President-elect Barack Obama has taken 22 questions from reporters and has done two sit-down television interviews.

The Democrat held his fourth press conference since Nov. 4 in Chicago Wednesday morning - his third in as many days - an unprecedented bit of access for reporters who have grown accustomed to President Bush's infrequent moments taking questions and already surpassing the last four presidents-in-waiting.

Mr. Obama has beat his four predecessors in number of postelection, pre-inauguration press conferences, and is inheriting a troubled nation. With one Cabinet post officially named, he is working at a faster clip than former President Bill Clinton.

In 2000, Mr. Bush gave one press conference as president-elect, and not until Dec. 19, because the results of his victory over Vice President Al Gore were so long in dispute. As president-elect in 1992, Mr. Clinton held three pre-inauguration press conferences.

George H.W. Bush held one press conference as president-elect, on Nov. 11, 1988.

Ronald Reagan also held one press conference before his 1981 inauguration. He called the major press conference to trot out his Cabinet nominees, but didn't show up himself.

In his four press conferences, Mr. Obama has called on 22 reporters, including Lynn Sweet from his hometown paper, the Chicago Sun-Times, who asked four questions and he answered each one. He took six questions Monday, just four questions Tuesday and three on Wednesday.

Some are grumbling that Obama transition aides preselected the reporters who would be allowed questions.

He'll likely get another crack at it early next week when he names Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and members of his national security team.

Mr. Obama frequently has made big announcements in front of a video camera instead of speaking to members of the press. His decision to become the first candidate to decline public financing was communicated first to supporters in a Web video. Obama aides spoke to reporters about the news, but the candidate did not.