Washington – United States President Barack Obama says he believes US voters are feeling frustrated with the pace of economic recovery, after mid-term poll losses.
The Republicans captured 60 seats to take control of the House of Representatives. The Democrats clung on to the Senate despite losing seats.
Republican leaders have already vowed to reverse Obama’s healthcare reforms and to cut spending.
Obama pledged to find common ground with the Republicans on key issues.
No one party was now in control, he said, so it was important for Republicans and Democrats to work together to focus on jobs, security and the future.
“It will not all be easy. We will not be able to bridge every difference,” he said.
“What is absolutely true is that without any Republican support on anything it’s going to be hard to get things done.”
John Boehner, the Ohio Republican, looks set to become House Speaker, replacing Nancy Pelosi – and has vowed to make Obama change course The Tea Party, the conservative anti-tax movement turned potential into power; its candidates won House and Senate seats and the South Carolina governorship.
Marco Rubio, The Tea Party favourite, beat not only his Democrat rival to Florida’s Senate seat, but also Governor Charlie Crist.
Harry Reid, the veteran Democrat and Senate majority leader, held off his Tea Party challenger, giving his party something to cheer about.
Despite spending vast sums Republicans, including former eBay boss Meg Whitman, ex-Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina, and former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, failed to win in California and Connecticut.
Obama said he believed progress had been made but more remained to be done.
“Over the last two years we’ve made progress, but clearly too many people haven’t felt that progress yet and they told us that clearly yesterday. As president, I take responsibility for that,” he said.
Earlier the Republicans’ John Boehner, set to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, pledged to repeal Mr Obama’s healthcare reform “monstrosity”. (BBC)
