U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's White House chief of staff pick met with Republican lawmakers on Thursday in an attempt of bipartisan cooperation.
Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois congressman who has been named the top White House official, told reporters that his meeting with Republicans in Congress sought for cross-party solution to challenges the country is facing now.
"Since I was named, I also have been reaching out and I have had about 20-plus phone calls with members of the Republican conference," he said. "We welcome their ideas and their concepts."
Obama has vowed to address the economic crisis and other key challenges to the U.S. through partisan cooperation and "leave politics aside."
During his yearlong campaign for the White House, Obama has recruited Republican advisors and been endorsed by prominent Republican incumbent and former officials including former State Secretary Collin Powell.
After his successful bid for the White House, Obama met with his former Republican presidential rival, John McCain, when the two vowed to work together after the government is sworn in on Jan. 20.
Emanuel noted that the challenges for the country are large but there was "enough goodwill for ideas from both parties to solve those challenges."
He said that Democrats can cooperate with Republicans in areas of education, healthcare, taxes, energy policy and national security.
The No. 4 among Democrats at the House of Representatives is known for his sharp political style. His visit to the Congress was considered by U.S. media as an effort to heal the wound resulted in the bipartisan cooperation before he takes the new job in the Obama's administration.