Obamas denied presidential guesthouse. Barack Obama may be the most popular incoming president in recent memory, but it won’t help him get a bed at Blair House before mid-January. Blair House is where newly elected commanders-in-chief traditionally move in five days before inauguration to the White House. The Obama clan initially “explored the idea” of an early check-in so daughters Sasha and Malia could start school in D.C. immediately after the Christmas break, a spokesperson says. But they were told that pre-scheduled events and guests at Blair House, which also lodges visiting dignitaries, prevents a move before Jan. 15. “The Blair House, the president’s guest house for visiting dignitaries, is available to President-elect Obama and his family starting Jan. 15, as is historically the case,” says Sally McDonough, a D.C. spokesperson. “As for any conversation, I don’t comment on specific conversations about transition details.” Obama’s transition team spokesperson says the White House has been “extremely accommodating” to the Obamas, and that process has been “smooth and friendly.”

Law enforcement officials said Tuesday that three racist, convicted “meth heads” – who cruised around Colorado with a pickup truck laden with guns, ammo and bullet-proof vests – never really posed a serious threat to Sen. Barack Obama, even though one of the men allegedly talked about killing the Democratic presidential nominee. Read more about why police say Obama was in no danger at BET.com/News.

AFL-CIO acknowledges that Obama’s skin color could be a factor in November.

Traditionally, Democratic presidential nominees can count on the vote of union workers in November. But even union brass admit that their members are less enthusiastic about a Black Democrat. “We feel there is a racial component for some union members,” AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman told Congressional Quarterly, noting that union leaders are doing all they can to limit the role that racism is plays in this election. “We feel confident we can overcome it.” The AFL-CIO has pumped $53.4 million into its effort to reel in members. This includes a million pieces of direct mail this week alone in the key battleground states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, CQ reports. During the primary elections earlier this year, Sen. Hillary Clinton helped stoke the racial fires, repeating her claims that White, working-class, non-college-educated voters – Democrats and Republicans alike – weren’t prepared to vote for a Black candidate, particularly Obama, whom she painted as elitist and out of touch. “There has never been an African-American candidate for president, and many folks around this country have never voted for an African-American candidate for any office,” she said. But Ackerman said that union leaders are stressing the importance of choosing Obama. “We’ve had a lot of discussions about how to talk to union voters . . . to identify closely what issue is preventing some union voters” casting a ballot for an African American. It’s also important to remember, say AFL-CIO officials, that union Whites are far more likely to vote for Obama than are non-union Whites. “Our goal is not just to elect Barack Obama but to build a progressive movement,” Ackerman said.

Pamela On Politics: Republicans appeared to have disserted the platform of family values for the 2008 presidential race, and no doubt it’s because their nominee’s checkered record might not stand up to the scrutiny of his challenger. Read more at Pamela On Politics.

Lawmaker: Bill Clinton’s faltering image in Black society is his own fault.

Rep. Jim Clyburn, the third-highest-ranking member of Congress and a member of the Black Caucus, said that former President Bill Clinton ought to look in the mirror if he wants to see who’s responsible for his falling out with Black America. Speaking to ABC News last week, Clinton said that the South Carolina Democrat was once a friend of his, but that he “was not Hillary’s supporter. Never. Not ever. Not for a day.” Find out what else he said and how Clyburn responded at BET.com/News.

If nothing else, the revelation of John Edwards’ extramarital affair ought to serve as a serious wakeup call for Sen. Barack Obama. With the Democratic National Convention just weeks away and Obama on the verge of announcing his presidential running mate, the Edwards’ debacle is a reminder of just how important it is to have a slow, thorough vetting process. Just imagine if Obama had chosen Edwards – who we now know was creeping with Rielle Hunter, a former campaign aide – days before this story broke. Are you surprised by the news of his affair? Get the latest details at Pamela On Politics.

While the ladies seem to love to accessorize their outfits with diamonds and pearls, Michelle Obama says her best accessory is her husband. She tells Ebony magazine, “The best thing I love having on me is Barack on my arm and vice versa, whether it’s having him standing there smiling at me or watching him mesmerize a crowd or talk to some seniors in a senior center.” Michelle Obama told the magazine, which hits newsstands Aug. 12, that should she become first lady, her primary focus will continue to be “mom-in-chief,” to their two daughters – Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7. Michelle Obama also discussed her marriage, how she balances motherhood and work and her fashion sense. Michelle Obama officially graced her way into the international spotlight as a fashion icon, making it onto Vanity Fair magazine’s International Best-Dressed List the last month. The couple also grace the cover of next month’s Essence magazine.