Vastly unpopular US President George W. Bush cloistered himself with family and friends as America voted Tuesday, privately invoking God`s blessing on whomever succeeds him, his spokeswoman said.

Bush hosted a dinner with relatives and close aides, celebrating US First Lady Laura Bush`s birthday in a White House dining room with a dinner ending with coconut cake, press secretary Dana Perino said by email.

`The president gave a toast at the start of the dinner thanking those present for all the work they’ve done and for their friendship. He ended by saying, `And may God bless whoever wins tonight,`` she told reporters.

He also gave the first lady, who was turning 62, `a pair of beautiful earrings,` before members of the group settled in to watch election returns from the residence section of the presidential mansion, said Perino.

`The president believes tonight is a night to appreciate the strength of our country and our democracy, as citizens from all over the country exercised their right to vote today, after a historic campaign,` she said.

`The president is committed to a transition that is as smooth as possible, a process that has been under way for many months, and as soon as we have a president-elect we’ll be able to do even more on that front,` said Perino.

She did not mention either of the rivals to become the 44th US president -- Bush`s chosen successor and fellow Republican John McCain, or Democrat Barack Obama -- by name.

Bush endorsed McCain in a high-profile public White House event in March, but the Arizona senator has mostly fled from the incumbent, who is vastly unpopular with US voters.

In recent days, Bush has barely appeared in public -- and then sometimes only for seconds as he walked from his Oval Office to the Marine One presidential helicopter on his way from the Camp David retreat.

Perino has blamed the heavy workload from the global financial crisis, the war in Georgia, or recent hurricanes, while acknowledging that Bush was mostly a burden for McCain.

`The Republican Party wanted to make this election about John McCain, and that`s appropriate,` she said Monday.

Bush `realizes that this election is not about him,` but `remains hopeful that John McCain will pull it out,` she told reporters.

`But he also is realistic about the political environment that we`re in.`

`This president has taken on really big issues, and he`s been tested in many ways, and this is a president who has done big things. And often when you do big things and you make tough decisions, they`re not popular,` said Perino.

`President Bush understands that. That said, he loves this country, he loves the people, he`s loved the job, and he`ll be watching tomorrow night with great interest as the returns come in,` she said.