WASHINGTON, Nov 4: US President George Bush, weighed down by record unpopularity, was to stay invisible on Tuesday as US voters decided the race to succeed him come January, the White House indicated on Tuesday.

Bush was to have dinner with US First Lady Laura Bush and watch the election returns in the residence section of the presidential mansion, but had no plans to speak or appear in public, his press office said.

And once it is clear whether Barack Obama or John McCain will be the 44th US president, Bush’s spokeswoman Dana Perino was to offer the White House’s official reaction.

In recent days, Bush has barely appeared in public — and then sometimes only for seconds as he walked from his Oval Office to the Marine One presidential helicopter on his way from the Camp David retreat.—AFP