White House Aura

The New York Times is reporting the following:

President Bush is to greet Mr. McCain and his wife, Cindy, at the White House at noon on Wednesday. They’re scheduled to lunch together in a private dining room and then to appear together in the Rose Garden at 1:15. Plan your day accordingly! (source)

There is no doubt that this is designed to give the presidential aura to John McCain. The Rose Garden is a very presidential background. However, I wonder whether it would not be more prudent to have the joint appearance in the Oval Office. In a race that John McCain desperately needs to be about national security, the Oval Office would be a better backdrop. Besides, the private dinning room is basically adjacent to the Oval Office (see below).

(source) This photo is from the Oval Office. In the pink room is the president's study and in the way background with the photo is the private dinning room.