Vice President-elect Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceGOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick Pence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's rally risk | Biden ramps up legal team | Biden hits Trump over climate policy MORE is poised to become the Trump administration’s point man on Capitol Hill.

President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE’s No. 2 has deep ties to Washington after spending more than a decade in the House, including a close relationship with Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanAt indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district MORE (R-Wis.) and wide respect from Senate Republicans.

He is already sliding into the role of Trump’s top Capitol Hill liaison, offering a preview of the influence he could wield with lawmakers and within the administration.

During the first week of the new Congress, Pence huddled with Republicans to hash out an ObamaCare repeal strategy and met with newly elected Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Pelosi, Schumer 'encouraged' by Trump call for bigger coronavirus relief package Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinSenate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency MORE (D-W.Va.), two Democrats who could be critical to getting a deal through Congress.

Republicans — many of whom never fully embraced the brash real estate mogul when Trump was their nominee — are signaling hope that Pence will be a hands-on vice president as they search for a path to a working relationship with the Trump White House.

“We expect him to play an indispensable role being a liaison between the White House and the Senate,” Sen. John Cornyn John CornynSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Republican Senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal MORE (R-Texas) said of Pence.

“Of course, he will be president of the Senate and I’m just very encouraged that he’s interested in maintaining that relationship.”

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Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeRepublican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style Bush endorsing Biden? Don't hold your breath MORE (R-Ariz.) — who did not support Trump’s campaign — said Republicans hope Pence will have an active role working with Congress, given that he’s got “good relations” with lawmakers and “understands the process.”

“He’s a policy wonk; he’s very knowledgeable on the policy issues. So, we all hope that he’s very involved,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE (R-Ky.) has repeatedly expressed hope that Pence will attend the weekly policy lunches, which would give the Senate GOP conference regular face time with the vice president.

Pence’s deep knowledge of Capitol Hill draws comparisons to Vice President Dick Cheney, who helped guide President George W. Bush as he settled into the White House.

Cheney, who was also a former lawmaker, frequently attended Republican conference lunches and met with lawmakers in his Capitol Hill office.

Shortly after the election, McConnell pointed to Cheney as a guidepost for Pence, calling him Bush’s “Senate liaison.”

“[He] didn't necessarily say anything all the time but he was like a sponge, absorbing our concerns,” he told reporters.

The Bush era is the last time Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress and were able to pass big-ticket items such as tax cuts, something Trump is also interested in.

Pence is expected to have offices in both the Senate — where he has the largely ceremonial role of being the president of the upper chamber — as well the House, according to CNN.

Sen. John Thune John Randolph ThunePowell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE (S.D.), the Senate’s No. 3 Republican, said lawmakers hope they get frequent face time with Pence.

“Mike’s got a lot of credibility over here. He understands this place. We’re hoping he has a significant influence in the new administration and their policies,” he said.

Republicans publicly breathed a sigh of relief when Trump named Pence his vice presidential pick, giving the GOP ticket a boost of institutional knowledge. They argue having a familiar face in the No. 2 spot could also help keep lines of communication open even when they disagree with the White House.

The incoming administration’s relationship with Congress is in some way a study in contrasts.

Trump has met with Senate Republicans just once since the election. Pence, in addition to his strategy session this week, met with GOP leadership multiple times at the end of last year.

And while Trump has come under fire for his press conference dry spell, Pence took questions from reporters on Capitol Hill this week.

“The promises of Obamacare have — have all been proven to be false. I was here in a different capacity in March of 2010 when we were told if you like your doctor, you can keep it. Not true,” he said.

It’s unclear how much freedom Trump, who is known to delegate, will give Pence. Even as he huddled with Republicans, Trump flexed his own political muscle derailing a House Republican plan to reform an independent ethics office with a single tweet.

But Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., signaled during the vice presidential vetting process that his father plans to let his second-in-command have broad influence over both domestic and foreign policy.

Asked about Pence’s ability to balance Trump’s inexperience, Cornyn said it would “absolutely” be an asset for the former Indiana governor.

“He spent 12 years here and he knows how this place works and I think that will help a lot,” said the Senate’s No. 2 Republican.