Obama to honor McCain on inauguration eve
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WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama is planning to honor onetime rival John McCain at a dinner on the eve of his inauguration.
Obama's inaugural committee said yesterday that it has planned three dinners across Washington to honor leaders who worked across party lines. Republican McCain, Democratic Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, also a Republican, are set to be honored on Jan. 19.
Obama says the dinners will honor Americans who put their country ahead of their political party. That bipartisanship is a central theme of Obama's campaign and transition to power.
Powell, who served in Republican President George W. Bush's Cabinet, endorsed Obama's presidential campaign over McCain's bid.
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Transition aides said yesterday that Obama picked the United States' northern neighbor for his first venture outside the country as president. Aides say they could not discuss the date for the trip or its agenda.
A transition official says aides to the president-elect and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada discussed the trip in recent days. But the official says Obama and Harper themselves have not directly discussed the trip.
Obama meets tomorrow with President Felipe Calderon of Mexico, his first in-person meeting with a world leader since winning election.
US presidents typically use Canada as their first international trip.
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Those are just a few items that the Marriott Wardman Park, Washington's largest hotel, is stocking for the 49,000 meals it expects to serve Jan. 17 through Inauguration Day. The hotel is among many businesses and government agencies trying to quantify whatever they can before President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in on Jan. 20.
"It's just amazing," said Christopher Otway, the Wardman's catering director. "The chef hands you the list and says these are the quantities they need and you say, 'Oh my God!' "
For inaugural planners, dealing with the numbers at first was daunting, said Peter Gage, parade director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
A few of the numbers:
1,000 US Park Police officers on duty, and those hired from outside departments, 2 million inauguration subway maps Metro is printing, and 112 light bulbs replaced in lampposts on the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route.
Barack Obama dropped in yesterday afternoon for a bite to eat with Washington's mayor, Adrian Fenty.
Obama drew laughs from the Ben's staff and nearby patrons when he walked up to the counter and asked, "Where's the food at?"
They ordered a house specialty, a Chili Half-Smoke - a quarter-pound half pork and beef smoked sausage on a steamed bun with mustard, onions, and chili sauce.
Ben's Chili Bowl celebrated its 50th anniversary last summer. Asked if this was his first visit, Obama replied: "It is, actually, and it was terrific."
