Obama team had 'game plan' for presser

When Barack Obama began taking questions during today’s economic press conference, reporters quickly realized that raising one’s hand wouldn’t lead to getting called on. That's because news outlets were selected beforehand.

President-elect Obama, according to an aide, went in with “a game plan” of who to call on, time-permitting. Today, he took questions from reporters with three wire services and three major papers.

Only the Associated Press and Reuters have asked questions at both post-election briefings, the first of which was held on Nov. 7. Otherwise, it’s been a mixed bag. For instance, the NY Times got an opportunity during the first, but the not the second. The opposite can be said for the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.

In a step toward White House protocol, the AP has had the first question on both occasions. But the Obama team isn't exactly following White House protocol since no television reporters asked questions today,(although four got a chance earlier this month).  Also, reporters were told last time not to use laptops, a consideration typically made for President Bush. However, that wasn't followed today, according to one reporter.

So while there's a shift toward White House protocol, it's not exactly there yet. Indeed, an aide said there is "no perfect system" yet in place that will last beyond Jan. 20.

Several reporters in the ballroom today told Politico they weren’t informed beforehand as to who’d get called on. But at the same time, there were assigned seats an indication that it could be already determined.

Good news for those news outlets shut out today: there's another press conference scheduled for Tuesday. Same time, same place.