Obama: Being a dad cuts into schmoozing with elites

“When we’re in town here in Washington,in the evenings,6:30 we want to be at the dinner table with our kids and I want to be helping them with their homework.

“I think that’s sometimes interpreted with me not wanting to be out there slapping backs and wheeling and dealing. It really has more to do with just the stage where we are in our lives,” Obama said.

Asked if he might spend more time on the political party circuit as his two daughters come of age,Obama said that was a possibility.

“My hope is that getting past this election people will have an opportunity to maybe step back and say,you know what the differences that divide us aren’t as important as the common bonds that we have as Americans,” he said.

“Some of that,I’m sure,will require addition effort on my part.

“Hopefully,we’ll see more effort on the other side as well,” Obama added.