The US capital is buzzing with preparations for president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, set to draw a huge crowd of millions.
The historical inauguration of the first African-American president of the United States, set to take place in exactly one month, is expected to draw an unprecedented five million people, swelling the city's population of 600,000.
"I think it's not an exaggeration that you could fill" the Mall -- the grassy strip of land leading to the US Capitol, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty told local TV station WUSA.
Although various estimates abound, officials refuse to confirm expected crowd numbers.
"We have seen nothing to suggest that there will be four million people, but if there are that many, we will be prepared to deal with them," said Special Agent Malcolm Wiley of the Secret Service, tasked with overseeing security for the inauguration.
"We have seen how (Obama) can attract crowds."
Washington's police force will double to 8,000 and 11,500 troops will help monitor the crowds.
The delivery of porta-potties has made headlines in local papers, which crunched numbers to come up with crowd estimates.
"Here's the number everyone has been waiting for: there will be 5,000 porta-potties available on the Mall and along the parade route on Inauguration Day," The Washington Post exclaimed.
"If officials ordered the portable restrooms based on how many people they expect that day, then figure on crowds of 500,000 to 1.5 million people."
The turnout for Obama's swearing-in is expected to shatter the last record inaugural for Lyndon Johnson in 1965, which drew 1.2 million attendees, following John F. Kennedy's assassination.
By contrast, President George W. Bush's inaugurations each drew about 300,000 people, according to Rebecca Pawlowski, a spokeswoman for the group Destination DC, which encourages tourism to the city.
On January 17, Obama will begin a three-day trip echoing his role model US Civil War-era president Abraham Lincoln.
He will arrive in Washington by train from Philadelphia, where the nation's founders wrote the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
Other stops include Wilmington, Delaware, where he will be joined by vice-president-elect Joe Biden, and Baltimore, Maryland.
Obama has said he will follow tradition and be sworn in with his full name, Barack Hussein Obama.
During the presidential campaign, some of Obama's political opponents mentioned his middle name in an attempt to portray the lifelong Christian as a secret Muslim with alleged ties to extremists.
He has invited evangelical pastor Rick Warren to deliver a religious invocation at the ceremony, a choice that has irked liberal and gay-rights groups.
But the choice of the popular conservative preacher, who opposes abortion and gay marriage, responds to a desire for "America to come together," Obama said.
The Mall will also be outfitted with large viewing screens and speakers so that people standing far away from the event can see and hear the oath.
The inaugural parade, scheduled to last over two hours Tuesday afternoon, will include some 15,000 people, 240 horses and dozens of bands marching down Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the White House.
Dozens of official balls and hundreds of other inaugural gatherings will take place at hotels, city centers and churches.
Bars, restaurants and nightclubs will be able to serve alcohol until 4:00 am -- two hours later than usual -- and food 24 hours a day from January 17 to 21, ensuring that inauguration-goers can party all-night long.
Inauguration frenzy also has sparked a run on hotel rooms, with prices now topping 400 dollars per night, with some demanding a four-night minimum. Some Washingtonians are renting their homes for the week at price tags topping several thousand dollars.
Officials who run the city's subway network are already admitting they will be overwhelmed.
"We are not be able to carry two to three million people," said Lisa Farbstein, a Metro spokeswoman.
"If you live close enough, you should consider walking."
Source: AFP American Edition
