President Barack Obama called Republican leaders early Wednesday to congratulate them on their midterm election victories and to promise to try to find "common ground" with them after a bruising campaign season.
The White House and incoming House Speaker John Boehner said the president called the Ohio Republican to offer congratulations on the GOP's regaining control of the House. Boehner said he promised to be honest with Obama and the two agreed to work together, even though Republicans campaigned on vows to turn back much of Obama's agenda.
During what Boehner described as a brief but pleasant midnight conversation, the two discussed working together on the electorate's priorities. Boehner said he defined those as cutting spending and creating jobs.
"'That's what they expect,'" Boehner's statement quoted Obama as saying.
A White House statement said the president also called Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who will remain in the minority but lead a strengthened GOP caucus.
In his calls to the Republicans, the president said he was looking forward to working with them to "find common ground, move the country forward and get things done for the American people."
Current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and current House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., also received calls from Obama.
Earlier in the evening, Boehner and other Republicans said they were eager to work with Obama — on their terms. Republicans have said they want to cut $100 billion in spending in the first year and try to roll back Obama's overhauls of health care and financial regulations.
