Obama to throw Super Bowl party

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is inviting a handful of Republicans and Democrats to the White House to watch the Super Bowl, a spokesman said.

The Hill reported Thursday that the invitations are part of the president's efforts to ease partisan tensions in Washington.

"Old habits die hard in the town, we get that," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "But the president understands that changing the way Washington works isn't likely to happen in just 10 days, but he believes that the time that he spent with Republicans … is a worthy investment of his time."

Gibbs did not say which lawmakers had been invited to the White House for the big game.

Obama has said he is rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but called the Arizona Cardinals' trip to the Super Bowl "a great Cinderella story."