President Obama says Republicans will be more cooperative after he is re-elected, and he used a vivid metaphor to explain it.

"My expectation is that there will be some popping of the blister after this election, because it will have been such a stark choice," Obama told Time magazine in an interview.

The election provides "a very clear choice," Obama said, and a Democratic victory will persuade Republicans to see things his way on such items as higher taxes on the wealthy, Medicare and investments in energy.

In recent years, the president said, congressional Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have been more interested in defeating him that in legislating.

"I believe that in a second term, where Mitch McConnell's imperative of making me a one-term president is no longer relevant, they recognize that what the American people are looking for is for us to get things done," Obama said.

Republicans instead said they will defeat Obama and win control of Congress because voters will reject Obama's lack of leadership.

"President Obama believes that he hasn't communicated enough and would use a second term to focus on becoming a better storyteller," said Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams. "America doesn't need a storyteller-in-chief. We need a leader who will work to create jobs, strengthen the middle class and turn around our economy."