Romney has cast himself in recent weeks as someone who could bridge the partisan divide that has led to endless gridlock the past two years, running ads repeatedly saying that he’s worked across the aisle before and can do it again.

Campaigning in Virginia this week with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Romney told voters he would reach out more regularly to Democrats on Capitol Hill.

“For me to get the things done … I’m going to have to reach across the aisle and meet with good Democrats who love America, just like you love America, and there are, there are good Democrats like that,” he said according to the Los Angeles Times. “I’m going to meet regularly with Democrat leaders and Republican leaders. I won’t do that once a year; when I say regularly I mean much more frequently than that because we’re going to have to work together. These are critical times.”

Romney also told a crowd in West Allis, Wis., today that he would be able to forge consensus on one of the trickiest issues for both parties in recent years — the debt ceiling. Referring to the gridlock in Congress that nearly resulted in a historic default on the nation’s obligations in 2011, Romney said his presidency would be able to avoid that scenario when the debt limit comes up again for a vote under his administration.

“You know that if the president is re-elected, he will still be unable to work with the people in Congress,” Romney said. “He has ignored them, attacked them, blamed them. The debt ceiling will come up again, and shutdown and default will be threatened, chilling the economy. The president was right when he said he can’t change Washington from the inside. In this case, you can take him at his word.” Romney’s optimism is notable, considering Republicans have said they will be just as skeptical of a debt ceiling hike under a Romney administration as they would be in any second term for Obama.