IN WHAT IS one of the White House’s odder traditions, two turkeys were pardoned by the US President in the Rose Garden yesterday.

Barack Obama spared the birds – Cobbler and Gobbler – from being part of a family feast today with an official presidential pardon.

And he was in jovial form.

“You know, they say that life is all about second chances. And this November, I could not agree more,” he said with a chuckle, referencing his recent reelection. “So in the spirit of the season, I have one more gift to give. And it goes to a pair of turkeys named Cobbler and Gobbler. The American people have spoken, and these birds are moving forward.”

His daughters Sasha and Malia were on hand for the ceremony also, with the elder of the two refusing to stroke the 19-week-old broad-breasted white bird.

This year, people were asked to vote through Facebook on which bird they wanted to save. Obama joked that political pundit Nate Silver got the results correct again.

Cobbler and Gobbler will now live out their days at Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington.

The tradition of ‘pardoning’ White House turkeys is thought to have started in 1865 with Abraham Lincoln.

About a year before, a live turkey had been brought home for the Christmas dinner, but [Lincoln’s son Tad] interceded in behalf of its life. . . . [Tad’s] plea was admitted and the turkey’s life spared.

It was reintroduced by recent presidents as a more light-hearted part of the day-to-day job.

Read: the tradition behind the White House ‘pardon’>