At least the ants livened things up

“No news. Lots of sitting around.”

That’s the scoop one journalist reported this weekend, when Barack Obama’s new “protective pool” of journalists began their round-the-clock coverage of the senator.

Until November, a rotating cast of 10 journalists will trail Obama everywhere he goes, whether he’s hobnobbing in Hollywood, hashing out a new policy statement or just heading to the gym.

Why? “We will never satisfy the never-ending requests for more access from the national press,” said Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki. She said giving 24/7 access is a “natural part of being an open and transparent campaign.”

Sen. John McCain is followed by a press pool while campaigning but not on his days off. Spokesman Brian Rogers said the campaign was considering a similar change.

Back in Obamaland, a print reporter is tasked with recording the hour-by-hour details of the senator’s every waking moment -- details alternately enlightening, amusing and maddeningly mundane.

Consider, for example, this snapshot of Obama’s Saturday at home in Chicago, dutifully relayed by the Wall Street Journal’s Amy Chozick:

3:30 p.m.: Obama arrives at his Hyde Park home, a two-story redbrick house on a tree-lined street with historic homes. His kids play in the sprinklers in the front yard. The candidate goes inside to change clothes to go to the gym. The press pool -- namely, Chozick -- sits across the street on a wall, later discovered to be covered in fire ants.

7:10 p.m.: Barack and Michelle Obama head to a downtown restaurant, Spiaggia.

7:48 p.m.: They arrive at the restaurant. Obama walks in a few feet ahead of Michelle, who looks slammin’ in a black cocktail dress with a severe slit down the back. Her hair is up.

10:35 p.m.: Obama and Michelle arrive back home. Agent verifies that he is going to bed and will not leave the house again.

The pool heads back to the Westin Hotel.

-- Kate Linthicum