Enigmatic Obama is actually quite a 'bore' in real life, claims friend

Washington, Dec 14 (ANI): He might be the most talked about person today, but on the personal front, the US President-elect Barack Obama is quite boring - at least that's what his friend says.

Michael Strautmanis, a longtime friend of the soon-to-be first couple who will serve as the chief of staff to Assistant to the President Valerie Jarrett, said he is constantly fielding questions from acquaintances on a wide range of Obama topics, reports Politico.

"I get lots of questions about whether he's still smoking," Strautmanis said.

"They ask me where he gets his ties, what kind of basketball player he's like and even if they can play basketball with him sometime," he added.

Strautmanis reckons that most of the attention is because "Obama is new to the public stage" - that the public's fascination will likely fade with time.

"One of the things people are going to learn is that, frankly, he's a little boring. He likes to go home and be with his family. Michelle likes to stay home and watch 'The Dick Van Dyke Show.' They're a really traditional family," he said.

Still, Strautmanis understands, "people are looking for some commonality."

"Barack seems extraordinary to them but accessible. They're looking for that real personal point to connect to him," Strautmanis said. (ANI)