WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama said, since terrorists might try to attack the U.S. during the White House transition, selecting his national security team has been a top priority for him.

In his first TV interview since the election, Obama told CBS' "60 Minutes" that there should be "as seamless a transition on national security as possible."

Obama said he has spent the days since the election on short and long-term issues. They include doing "whatever it takes" to stabilize the economy, restore consumer confidence and create jobs, along with getting sound health care and energy policies through Congress.

The president-elect also said that as soon as he takes office, he'll work with his security team and the military to draw down U.S. troops in Iraq, shore up Afghanistan and "stamp out al-Qaida once and for all." And he said that includes capturing or killing Osama bin Laden.

Obama also said that eliminating the federal deficit is less important than getting the U.S. economy back on track.

"We shouldn't worry about the deficit next year or even the year after," he said. "The most important thing is that we avoid a deepening recession."

In his interview with reporter Steve Kroft, Obama talked about how his life has changed since he won the nomination. So here we are.

"There seem to be more people hovering around me. That's for sure," Obama said in transcripts of the interview posted at CBSNews.com. "And, on the other hand, I'm sleeping in my own bed over the last 10 days, which is quite a treat. Michelle always wakes up earlier than I do. So, listen to her roaming around and having the girls come in and, you know, jump in your bed. It's a great feeling."

Michelle Obama told Kroft the family won't choose its dog before it makes the move to Washington.

"The deal with the dog was that we would get the dog after we got settled," Michelle Obama said.

She said her daughters are "good with it," even though they're ready to get the puppy now.

The family wants a dog from a shelter, but the Obamas need one that will not trigger 10-year-old Malia's allergies.

Barack Obama told Kroft that, rather than a feeling of "what did I get myself into," he's feeling sure.

"Surprisingly enough, I feel right now that I'm doing what I should be doing," he said. "That gives me a certain sense of calm. I will say that the challenges that we're confronting are enormous. And they're multiple. And so there are times during the course of a given a day where you think, 'Where do I start?'"