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Economic recovery my priority: Obama

CHICAGO: President-elect Barack Obama has assembled his economic team and called on Congress to pass an economic stimulus programme, but warned Americans that the road to economic recovery will not be easy.

Inheriting an economy in peril, Mr. Obama spoke confidently yet soberly on Friday at his first press conference as President-elect after a meeting with some of the country’s top economic experts.

He warned that Americans faced the challenge of a lifetime and pledged he would act to help those devastated by lost jobs, disappearing savings and homes seized in foreclosure. But the man who promised change in his campaign speeches cautioned against hopes of quick solutions.

“It is not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in,” he said.

Mr. Obama planned to stay home in Chicago through the weekend, with a blackout on news announcements so he and his staff can rest after the gruelling campaign. After his election on Tuesday night, Mr. Obama spent the week meeting advisers.

The No. 1 priority, Mr. Obama said, was to get Congress to approve an economic stimulus plan that would extend jobless benefits, send food aid to the poor, and spend tens of billions of dollars on public works projects.

If the plan was not approved this month, in a special session of Congress, Mr. Obama said “it will be the first thing I get done as President.” — AP