WASHINGTON (AP) – A weakened President Barack Obama and emboldened Republican leaders in Congress began adjusting to a new political dynamic today after voters coast to coast used the midterm elections to sharpen the dividing lines in an already divided government.
The president scheduled an afternoon news conference to offer his take on an Election Day thumping of Democrats that gave Republicans new power to check his proposals. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was to give his version, too. He’s now positioned to become the new Senate majority leader and confront the president over his signature health care law and on other issues.
Faced with the imperative of constructing a new working relationship, one of Obama’s first post-election calls was to McConnell, although the two didn’t connect. Obama left a message for the senator.
The election results were resounding: The GOP won control of the Senate and strengthened its hold on the House as a series of Democratic-leaning states fell under control of new Republican governors.
That will force both sides to rethink their approach on immigration reform, budget matters, presidential nominations and much more. With lawmakers planning to return to Washington next week for a post-election session, Obama invited congressional leaders to a meeting Friday.
“We are humbled by the responsibility the American people have placed with us, but this is not a time for celebration,” said House Speaker John Boehner, who will preside over a larger caucus come January. “It’s time for government to start getting results and implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country, starting with our still-struggling economy.”
With the 2014 midterms in the rearview mirror, 2016 and the next presidential race loom large. It was no coincidence that two potential GOP contenders for 2016 – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky – turned up on morning talk shows today to deconstruct the results and cast them as a good sign for the GOP going forward.
Exit polls show the GOP drew strength from voters who felt left behind economically. Almost half said their own families’ financial situations hadn’t improved much over the past two years, and a fourth said it had gotten worse. Those who said their finances were worse supported Republican congressional candidates by more than a 2-1 margin.
Even as they turned against Obama and Democrats, voters also expressed scant confidence in Republican leaders, underscoring the increased pressure that Republicans will face to deliver next year when they control both houses of Congress.
Obama will have early opportunities to set a new tone in dealing with the Republicans.
