American Idol Finalists Bond With President Bush  7/30/06

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US President George Bush met with finalists from US talent competition American Idol on Friday (28JUL06) at the White House, and boasted it was the highlight of his day.

Bush posed for photos with the Idols, gave them a tour of the Oval Office and quizzed then on who had actually voted for him in the presidential election.

Finalist Ace Young says, "Before we walked in, everyone was asked who voted for him...A majority (of us) didn't.

"But when we walked out, every single person said, 'Wow, what a great guy!'

It felt like we were just hanging out with him."

Before meeting the President, the Idols were given a tour of the White House by the First Lady Laura Bush's press secretary Susan Whitson - Idol winner Taylor Hicks' onetime English teacher.

The visit came just hours before the group was set to hit the stage at Washington, DC's Verizon Center, the first time runner-up Katharine McPhee was able to perform with them on tour since recovering from bronchitis and laryngitis.