Simple explanation: he’s a smoker. He can’t easily smoke in the White House the way he can when he is on the road.
Best comment so far.
I should think it would be more difficult to smoke on the road, what with constant public appearances and traveling press. I’m pretty sure he already has a smoking room in the White House someplace. But you may be right. Trying to stop smoking while under intense pressure is probably pretty difficult. It may help account for his recent testiness, although he was crankly during the campaign also.
I suspect part of the reason is to relieve the pressure so Obama doesn’t flip off the public during one of his speeches.
I disagree. He is the President; he can smoke in the White House or in the EOB or on Air Force One. Who would tell him that he can’t?