Even President Obama admits the Democrats have their work cut out for them after the GOP gained control of the Senate and increased their number of House seats in Tuesday night’s election.
“Obviously, Republicans had a good night, and deserve credit for running good campaigns,” the president said Wednesday afternoon during a lengthy news conference at the White House. “Beyond that, I’ll leave it to all of you and the professional pundits to pick through yesterday’s results.”
Multiple reporters pressed the president on whether he will be implementing specific changes to his administration as a result of losing control of the Senate and several key gubernatorial races, but Obama remained noncommittal.
“I think that every day I’m asking myself: Are there some things I can do better?’” he said. “And, you know, I’m going to keep on asking that every single day.”
Not satisfied, Fox News’ Ed Henry pressed the issue after several iterations of the same answer.
“I haven’t heard you say a specific thing during this news conference that you would do differently,” the reporter challenged Obama when it came to his turn. “You’ve been asked it a few different ways. I understand you’re going to reach out, but you’ve talked about doing that before. It’s almost like you’re doubling down on the same policies and approach you’ve had for six years.”
Obama stood firm and said he had already answered the question.
“If you’re asking about personnel or if you’re asking about a position on issues or what have you, then it’s probably premature,” he conceded. “What I’m committing to is making sure that I am open to working with them on the issues that — where they think that there’s going to be cooperation.”
The President also conceded that the election was a referendum on the job he’s been doing for the past six years.
“When it comes to the political analysis, that’s your job,” he answered to a question on why Democrats got most of the blame for Washington gridlock. “But what is also true is I am the President of the United States, and I think understandably, people are going to ask for greater accountability and more responsibility from me than from anyone else in this town. Appropriately so, and I welcome that.”
Obama also reiterated that both parties need to take responsibility and be more productive over the next two years and beyond.
“What’s most important to the American people right now … the resounding message — not just of this election, but basically the last several — is get stuff done,” he said. “Don’t worry about the next election. Don’t worry about party affiliation.”