A family sit-down with the Obamas

Sen. Barack Obama is not president, but one of his daughters has plans for the White House.

“I enjoy decorating,” 10-year-old Malia told NBC’s “Access Hollywood” during the Obama family’s first interview last weekend. “So I get this whole new room to do whatever I want.”

That was one of the cute, candid revelations by the Obama girls -- Malia and her 7-year-old sister, Sasha -- who until now have been kept out of the spotlight.

They sat down with their parents over the Fourth of July holiday with reporter Maria Menounos.

The first part of the interview ran Tuesday; the second and third run tonight and Thursday.

Forget troop drawdowns and sky-high gas prices; this conversation was about fashion and fun -- and Obama’s old slacks.

“These pants he’s had for probably about 10 years,” Michelle Obama said when Menounos asked about her husband’s new status as a style icon.

The Illinois senator was also perplexed. “I’m baffled by this whole thing myself,” he admitted, “because I hate to shop.”

Luckily for Obama, he has his daughters to keep him hip. Malia confessed that she ribbed her father after he greeted one of her grade school friends with a formal handshake.

“You really don’t shake kids’ hands that much,” she told her dad. “You just wave or say hi.”

-- Leslie Hoffecker