Jarrett: Obama still interested in bipartisanship

[October 21, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of President Barack Obama's top advisers says he's always been eager to reach out to Republicans for political accommodation and would be again if the GOP shows an interest in bipartisanship.

But senior adviser Valerie Jarrett says that first the White House wants to focus in the next 10 days on protecting Democratic control of Congress. She was interviewed on CBS's "The Early Show" a day after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told The Associated Press he hopes to work more closely with Obama next year on tax, trade and other economic policies.

Asked if Obama still had an interest in cooperating with the GOP given the political gridlock, Jarrett said, "He's not going to give up on that. He's going to keep trying, no matter who's in Congress."

[Associated Press]

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