Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Barack Obama has made his first trip up Pennsylvania Avenue as president to personally lobby Capitol Hill Republicans for help resurrecting the economy.

The White House-backed $825-billion stimulus package is due for a vote tomorrow in the House. President Obama is hoping for bipartisan support, urging lawmakers today to "keep politics to a minimum."

The president says the daily recession statistics are underscoring the urgency of the economic situation. Speaking to reporters between separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans, President Obama said he doesn't expect 100% agreement from those he referred to as his "Republican colleagues." But he said everybody should put politics aside and do the people's business.

President Obama describes the meetings as "very constructive." And Republicans said they were impressed with his willingness to listen. But there have been no new pledges of support.