Obama, McCain vow to work closely to change Washington

President-elect Barack Obama and former Republican rival John McCain pledged Monday to work together on ways to change Washington’s “bad habits,” though aides to both men said it was unlikely McCain would serve in an Obama Cabinet.

The two men met in Obama’s transition headquarters in Chicago for the first time since the Illinois senator vanquished McCain in the presidential election Nov. 4. Obama said they wanted to talk about “how we can do some work together to fix up the country,” and he added that he would offer his own thanks to McCain “for the outstanding service he’s already rendered.”

Obama has said he is likely to invite at least one Republican to join his Cabinet, but McCain was not expected to be a candidate. The Arizonan is serving his fourth term in the Senate.

When asked if he planned to help the Obama administration, McCain replied, “Obviously.”