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Obama: Daughters not impressed by candidacy

Democratic hopeful talks of trying to make time for family on campaign

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updated 12:40 p.m. ET April 29, 2008

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's young daughters are "not impressed" that their father is the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"When I call them and they say, 'Daddy, what did you do today?' I said, 'Well, I spoke to 35,000 people.' It's like 'Boring.' It's not interesting," Obama told Rachael Ray in an interview broadcast Tuesday on her daytime talk show.

Obama and his wife Michelle spoke to the celebrity chef about trying to make time for family and each other during a protracted race for his party's nomination. They have two daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6.

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"It's thrilling except I'm not seeing my wife and kids enough," Obama said.

The Obamas try to see each other once a week, Michelle Obama said. She said if her husband is home for a block of time, they will have a family night, game night and a date night together. Recently, the couple ate at one of their favorite restaurants.

"It's like dinner or a movie because I can't stay awake," she said.

Michelle Obama said it makes her laugh to see her husband's face on campaign memorabilia.

"It's sort of like, 'Look. It's Dad,'" she said. "Is that Dad on a shirt? Is that Dad on a stick? It's just Barack. What's he doing on a shirt?"

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