"Republican voters, if you ask them about my particular policy positions, often agree with me," Obama told Parade magazine in an interview to be published Sunday. "So there's a difference between Republicans in Washington and Republican and Republican-leaning voters around the country."
Obama did not cite specific issues. But he has said in the past that he believes many Republicans agree with him on the need for "a balanced" plan to reduce the federal debt, including higher taxes on the wealthy as well as budget cuts; Obama has also said many Republicans agree on the need to rebuild the nation's roads and bridges.
The president also pointed that parts of his health care plan were borrowed from Mitt Romney, then the governor of Massachusetts and now the Republican nominee for president.
The election contest between him and Romney gives votes a chance to render decisions on these issues, Obama told Parade.
"I think that after this election, we'll be in a position to once again reach out to Republicans and say that the American people have rendered a judgment," Obama said. "And the positions we're taking are well within what used to be considered bipartisan centrist approaches."
Republicans would point out that the vast, vast majority of their members plan to vote against Obama this fall.
Obama also did not address what might happen in Republicans keep control of the U.S. House, and/or win the majority in the Senate.
Obama also talked about his approach to Republicans:
My approach has been pretty consistent from the start; I've often proposed ways to solve our problems that used to be embraced by Republicans.
There's no better example than the health care bill, which was designed originally by the now Republican standard-bearer and is working pretty well in Massachusetts.
The Recovery Act that helped us avoid a depression, a third of it was tax cuts. My hope is that the Republican Party, post election, steps back and says, "Now that we're not so worried about beating the president, maybe we should spend a little time focusing on solving the problems."
