He met at the White House with congressional leaders from both parties. He went to Capitol Hill for private meetings with House and Senate Republicans. President Barack Obama even schmoozed with a group over cocktails at the executive mansion.
How far is he willing to push for bipartisanship? All the way to the Super Bowl.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, a bit heavier on Democrats and those from Pennsylvania, has been invited to join Obama at the White House to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Arizona Cardinals in the fight for NFL bragging rights.
Obama said this week that he would root for Pittsburgh against the "long-suffering" and "great Cinderella story" Cardinals, and wished the Cardinals the best.
Steelers owner Dan Rooney, a longtime Republican, endorsed Obama's presidential bid and campaigned for him. Obama also noted that Franco Harris, one of the most beloved former Steelers, campaigned for him in Pittsburgh, too.
Five of the lucky 15 lawmakers who received invitations to join Obama in the White House residence are from Pennsylvania, and two are from Arizona. There are four senators and 11 representatives. The group includes 11 Democrats, four Republicans and three women.
During the pregame show, Obama plans to do a live interview from the White House, with Matt Lauer on NBC.
The list includes:
- Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)
- Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
- Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
- Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
- Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
- Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL)
- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
- Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA)
- Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA)
- Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
- Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
- Congressman Paul Hodes (D-NH)
- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC)
- Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA)
- Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI)
Upton, R-Mich., compared Obama's overtures to Republicans to former President Ronald Reagan's courting of congressional Democrats during the 1980s.
"I see this Sunday as precisely what Reagan did and his relationship with Tip O'Neill," Upton said. "The issues of today -- we can't afford another four years like the last eight. I want him to succeed and I want to turn this country around so we have to work together," Upton said.
