United States President George W Bush on Wednesday accepted responsibility for the ruling Republican Party's drubbing in the Congressional elections and admitted the result reflected the displeasure over the lack of progress in the war in Iraq.
"I know there's a lot of speculation on what the election means for the battle we're waging in Iraq," Bush said at a White House press conference, as the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives and made strong gains in the Senate.
"I recognise that many Americans voted last night to register their displeasure with the lack of progress being made," he said.
Bush said he was obviously disappointed with the outcome of the election and 'as the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility'.
"You look at it race by race, it was close. The cumulative effect, however, was not too close. It was a thumping."
"I told my party's leaders that it is now our duty to put the elections behind us and work together with the Democrats and independents on the great issues facing this country." Bush said he would spend a lot of time meeting with Democratic leaders in the new Congress, including with the likely new speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy
Pelosi.
"She's coming to the Oval Office later this week. I'm going to sit down and talk with her."
"I believe on a lot of issues we can find common ground. There's a significant difference between common ground and abandon principles.
"She's not going to abandon her principles and I'm not going to abandon mine. I do believe we have common ground to move forward on," he said.
