President Barack Obama took his congressional outreach effort to the green on Monday, playing a round of golf with a bipartisan trio of senators.
Democrat Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado and Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Bob Corker of Tennessee joined Obama for a round at Maryland's Andrews Air Force Base, where Obama frequently plays golf on weekends with aides and friends. Under overcast skies, the three chatted casually with Obama, wearing a windbreaker-and-baseball-cap. They putted on the first green before leaving the view of reporters on a pair of golf carts.
The afternoon outing added a recreational twist to Obama's months-long effort to strengthen ties with lawmakers, hoping some quality face time now can lay the groundwork for compromise on pressing issues down the road.
"He's looking for partners anywhere he can find them — including on the 8th hole," said White House press secretary Jay Carney.
The White House and Democrats are working to secure support for an immigration overhaul — especially from Republicans. They're hoping that a strong bipartisan showing in the Senate will strengthen the bill's prospects for passing the Republican-controlled House. Obama is also hoping to find common ground with lawmakers that could lead to a broad budget deal.
To that end, in recent weeks Obama has entertained senators from both parties at the White House, held dinners at a nearby hotel, traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and made countless phone calls.
In addition to immigration and fiscal issues, Carney pointed to energy and gun control as two other topics that might come up as Obama and the senators teed off.
"He's willing to try anything," Carney said. "Whether it's a conversation on the phone or a meeting at the Oval Office, or dinner at a restaurant or dinner at the residence, he's going to have the same kinds of conversations."
Obama could have his hands full on the golf course. All three of the senators who golfed Monday with Obama were on Golf Digest's 2011 list of "Washington's Top 150 Golfers."
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