WASHINGTON, Dec 7: President-elect Barack Obama insisted in an interview broadcast on Sunday he had quit smoking — sort of.

“I have, but what I’ve said was, that there are times where I’ve fallen off the wagon,” he told NBC programme “Meet the Press.” Told that meant he was still a smoker, Obama said: “Fair enough.” The Democrat’s wife Michelle insisted he renounce cigarettes as a condition for allowing him to run for president. On the campaign trail, Obama was seen habitually chomping on nicotine gum.

“I have done a terrific job under the circumstances of making myself much healthier,” he said, reflecting on the no-smoking rules in force at his new residence. “And I think that you will not see any violations of these rules in the White House.”—AFP