Obama Joins List of Poker-Playing Presidents

US president-elect Barack Obama joins a growing list of poker players who have made it to the White House.

Perhaps the best known for his prowess as a poker player was Warren Harding (Republican, 1921-3), who reportedly played poker twice a week, and once gambled away an entire set of china from the White House. The advisors who played poker with the president were given the nickname the "Poker Cabinet."

Harry Truman (Democrat, 1945-53) also liked poker, although according to some of his playing buddies he wasn't very good at the game.

Dwight Eisenhower (Republican, 1953-61) used his knowledge of mathematics to his benefit, winning enough money from twice-weekly poker games to buy his first uniform after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1915 and to buy gifts for his wife Mannie.

Richard Nixon (Republican, 1969-74) funded his first congressional campaign with his World War II poker winnings, which amounted to $600 won in a two month period.

Defeated Republican candidate John McCain prefers the casino game of craps. Perhaps poker players really do have better odds of winning presidential elections?