Obama makes calls as Senate slips away

President Obama on Tuesday night placed phone calls to candidates from both sides of the aisle as Democratic control of the Senate appeared to be slipping away.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest tweeted that the president was monitoring returns at the White House, and had spoken to House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates of both parties.

{mosads}“More details in the [morning],” Earnest said. 

Earlier Tuesday, Earnest said Obama planned to be watching the returns in the residence, but that he did not know who would be watching alongside him. 

“I do anticipate that the President will be updated regularly by members of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach here at the White House, who have been in touch with some of the campaign strategists who are working on these campaigns, to give him some updated information about the returns,” Earnest said. 

“So he’ll be gathering some information that’s not publicly reported right away,” Earnest added. “But he’ll be monitoring the results like many other Americans tonight.” 

Separately, the White House announced that the president has asked a bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders to gather at the White House on Friday. The lawmakers are expected to discuss the agenda for the lame-duck session, where legislators will need to pass a new budget measure. 

There’s also speculation the president will hold a press conference on Wednesday to address the results of the election.