Podesta also predicted that the election will lead to more cooperation in Washington. | AP Photo Podesta: W.H. will be 'soul-searching'

John Podesta, president of the Center for American Progress and leader of Barack Obama’s presidential transition team, expects to see some “soul-searching” and “changes” in the White House after November’s elections.

With Democrats expected to lose dozens of seats in the midterms — and possibly control of Congress — Podesta believes Obama will have to make changes to adapt to the new political environment.


“After November, you'll see some soul-searching and some changes particularly in the way that he's talked to the American people and really communicated, particularly, I think, with the business community,” Podesta said Tuesday morning on MSNBC.

“You'll see, I think, at least a willingness to kind of listen to ideas to move forward with people,” he added. “And you know, I think that the president does level with people. He's pretty straightforward about what he thinks works, what he thinks doesn't.”

The former White House chief of staff for Bill Clinton also predicted that the election will lead to pressure for more cooperation in Washington, after unhappy voters send messages to Democrats and Republicans alike.

“After the election, there's no question ... that the public mood, the public spirit is asking for a conversation around kitchen tables and boardrooms about how the country can get together to move forward,” Podesta said.

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story characterized Podesta as saying that the midterm elections would lead to more cooperation in Washington. More precisely, Podesta predicted that the post-election period would bring “at least a willingness to kind of listen to ideas to move forward with people.”



CORRECTION: Corrected by: Gabe Beltrone @ 09/08/2010 02:09 PM CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story characterized Podesta as saying that the midterm elections would lead to more cooperation in Washington. More precisely, Podesta predicted that the post-election period would bring “at least a willingness to kind of listen to ideas to move forward with people.”