Obamas' early-bird Blair House stay nixed

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's hopes to move into the Blair House early were quashed when his family learned the house was booked, a spokesperson said.

The Obamas wanted to move into the residence -- where incoming presidents usually stay in the five days before Inauguration Day -- so their daughters could start school Jan. 5, The New York Times reported.

"We explored the idea so that the girls could start school on schedule," a spokesperson for the Obama transition team said. "But, there were previously scheduled events and guests that couldn't be displaced."

Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush declined to disclose to the Times who was staying at the Blair House, saying "It's not a public schedule."

"It's not a question of outranking the Obamas," McDonough said. "Blair House will be available to them on January 15."