Obama vows to work with former rival to "fix up country"

Source: Xinhua | 11-18-2008 07:45

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama vowed on Monday to work with his former Republican rival John McCain to "fix up the country".

Obama met with the Arizona senator in his transition office in Chicago, Illinois, for the first time since he won the presidential elections on Nov. 4.

Obama told reporters before the talks that he and McCain were "just gonna have a good conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up the country," and expressed his gratitude to McCain for "the outstanding service he's already rendered."

Obama's transition office made an announcement about the meeting on Friday, saying "they share an important belief that Americans want and deserve a more effective and efficient government, and will discuss ways to work together to make that a reality."

The meeting took place when Obama is contemplating on staffing his cabinet and other administrative positions, and McCain, who has rich experience in the national defense affairs in the Senate, was speculated to join Obama's government.

Obama has repeatedly promised during his historic presidential campaign that he would reach out to Republicans to work in his government should he be elected. He told a TV interview last week that the worst economic crisis since 1930s the country was undergoing provided an opportunity for two major parties -- Democratic and Republican -- to come together.

When asked if he planned to help the Obama administration before the meeting, McCain said "obviously."

Editor:Zhang Pengfei