Both candidates readying for transition

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/10/bush2.jpg caption=" President Bush is planning to create a commission for the Presidential transition."]

(CNN) - President Bush may have issued an executive order Thursday creating a commission to ease presidential transition – but the process itself has been underway for months within both campaigns.

The White House has already been in contact with the presidential campaigns, though the first official meeting of the newly-created group - which will include officials from both Barack Obama and John McCain’s campaigns, along with administration representatives overseeing the nation’s fiscal health and national security - will take place next week.

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Washington lobbyist William Timmons is in charge of McCain’s transition team, while John Podesta is in charge of Obama’s, whose efforts were underway before the parties’ conventions.

The last White House transition, delayed by the Florida recount, did not begin until late November.