White House Says Parity|Will Prevail After Elections

WASHINGTON (CN) - White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that President Obama would continue to reach out to Republicans after midterm elections next week, despite some congressional candidates' obstructionist platforms. "Regardless of what the outcome is, there is going to be greater parity," he said. "There is enough common ground to move this country forward."

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who would become Senate majority leader if Republicans take a majority of Senate seats next week, has stated that his goal as leader would be to make Obama a one-term president.

Gibbs said he hopes McConnell will reconsider his approach to post-midterms.

"The only way you are going to make progress on clean energy, the only way you are going to make progress on comprehensive immigration reform, the only way you are going to make real progress on getting our fiscal house in order, is to do so together," he said.

Gibbs said he could not conceive of two years of political gridlock. He said he could not imagine a newly elected member of Congress emerging from elections and "screeching everything to a halt ... no nominees, no budgets, no progress on energy."

"There is not a scenario where only one group of people can move this country forward," he said.

Gibbs said Obama "looks forward" to sitting down with McConnell after elections, regardless of the outcome.

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