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Rahm Reaches Out to Republicans

November 20, 2008 3:08 PM

ABC News' Matt Jaffe Reports:

President-elect Barack Obama's incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel came to Capitol Hill Thursday, delivering a bipartisan message to top Republican lawmakers to come together to solve the current economic crisis, as well as the country's other challenges.

"In these challenging times economically, the middle class are working harder, earning less and paying more and the problems facing and the challenges facing the country require that people of both parties work together to solve those problems," Emanuel said following a meeting with Senate Republicans.

"We would like to welcome their ideas on a host of fronts -- be that in the area of education, healthcare, taxes, energy policy, national security. You know, give us those ideas as we are formulating what we're going to do in the Obama administration," he said.

Emanuel, who conducted the meetings under Obama's direction, noted that he had enjoyed a "very good meeting" with Senate GOP leaders that lasted about half an hour. The future Chief of Staff then crossed over Capitol Hill to talk to two prominent House Republicans, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana and new House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.

"President-elect Obama has repeatedly said the challenges for the country are large, the problems we face are of a serious magnititude, that there is enough area and enough good will for ideas from both parties to solve those challenges," Emanuel added.

Obama sent a bipartisan signal himself when he met with his former rival for the presidency, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in Chicago on Monday. Emanuel also attended the meeting, along with McCain's friend and colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC.