A fresh start... Barack Obama and John McCain vow to work together
Last updated 11/19/2008 8:14:06 AM
Barack Obama and John McCain vow to work together
Just a couple of weeks ago they were bitter rivals for the most powerful job in the United States. But now U.S. president-elect Barack Obama and his former rival John McCain have vowed to work together in a new era of reform.
The former U.S. election opponents were all smiles as they met for the first time since Mr Obama's historic win and posed for Press pictures.
They pledged to take a bipartisan approach on critical issues such as the financial crisis and Mr McCain said he obviously planned to help the resident-elect's administration.
The man who will be America's first black president has said he will include Republicans in his cabinet but neither man offered any hint of a specific future position for Mr McCain.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, they said they had shared a "productive conversation" about the need to "launch a new era of reform."
It read: "We hope to work together in the days and months ahead on critical challenges like solving our financial crisis, creating a new energy economy, and protecting our nation's security."
Political observers say Mr McCain's track record of working with Democrats on issues from climate change to immigration makes him a key figure in the new, Democratically-controlled Washington.
They add that the Republican senator's influence could be crucial if the new president wants to push his ambitious plans through the Senate.