Obama Smokes

President Elect Barack Obama is a smoker and has struggled to quit the habit since he promised his wife Michelle that he would quit during the 2008 presidential primaries. However, Obama admitted in a December 7, 2008 Meet The Press interview with Tom Brokaw that he had smoked a few cigarettes on the campaign trail after his vow. During the same interview, Obama reiterated that The White House would be smoke-free.Chicago Tribune: Obama says he won't smoke cigarettes in the White House (December 8, 2008) The vote blog: Obama admits he hasn't totally kicked the cigarette habit (December 8, 2008)

"I've never been a heavy smoker...I've quit periodically over the last several years. I've got an ironclad demand from my wife that in the stresses of the campaign I don't succumb. I've been chewing Nicorette strenuously." - Barack Obama, Chicago Tribune, February 7, 2008ABC News: Obama to Quit -- Smoking, That Is (February 7, 2007)

"There are times where I've fallen off the wagon...I've done a terrific job, under the circumstances, of making myself much healthier...And I think that you will not see any violations of these rules in the White House." - Barack Obama, Meet The Press, December 7, 2008Chicago Tribune: Obama says he won't smoke cigarettes in the White House (December 8, 2008)