Obama: Not worried about being last Democratic president

Answering questions at what is likely his final overseas press conference, President Obama said he’s not worried about being the last Democratic president — “not even for a while.” 

{mosads}Obama made the remarks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Sunday. 

The president was asked for his take on the Democratic Party, following losses across the board on Election Day. Over the summer, former President George W. Bush told a group of aides he feared he’d be the last Republican president. 

In response, Obama said, “I’m not worried about being the last Democratic president — not even for a while.”

“The Democratic nominee won the popular vote,” he added of his former secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

But he said the party has “some thinking to do” about its message and strategy going forward. 

Asked about how Democrats in Congress might interact with President Donald Trump once he takes office, Obama said he hoped they’d work together when possible.

“I certainly don’t want them to do what Mitch McConnell did when I was elected,” he said. 

In 2010, the Senate Republican leader said of his conference, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”

He also came close to endorsing Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is being challenged for her leadership position in the House. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) jumped from relative obscurity into the spotlight this week when he launched a challenge to unseat Pelosi. 
 
“I think Nancy Pelosi is an outstanding and historic political leader,” Obama said.  

Tags Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Mitch McConnell

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