Obama says he always believes in prayer

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BANGKOK, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama, answering a reporter's question on starting his Thailand by visiting a Buddhist monastery, said he always believes in prayer.

Obama, who arrived in Bangkok Sunday on the first leg of his Asia tour that would also take him to Myanmar and Cambodia, was asked at a media meeting about his visit to the royal monastery where he reportedly told a monk he would need a lot of prayer to help the United States avoid a fiscal crisis.

Though the question, apparently asked in a light vein, was directed at Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who accompanied Obama at the briefing, the U.S. leader said: "First of all, I always believe in prayer. I believe in prayer when I go to church back home, and if a Buddhist monk is wishing me well, I'm going to take whatever good vibes he can give me to try to deal with some challenges back home."

Obama went on to say he was confident of dealing with the U.S. fiscal situation.