GOP says bipartisanship still possible

WASHINGTON, March 23 (UPI) -- A Senate Republican leader says his party will look for bipartisan chances on a "case-by-case basis," not just refuse to cooperate as one senator suggested.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, said while Republicans disagree with the way Democrats developed healthcare legislation, they wouldn't dismiss working across the aisle out of hand, The Hill reported Tuesday.

"That isn't to say that on the other issues (besides healthcare) that are in front of us, whether it's financial regulation, some of the other things, obviously, we're going to look at these issues on a case-by-case basis," the fourth-ranking Senate Republican said during an appearance on CNN. "And if it makes sense, and we think these are solutions that represent the middle, and not the extreme left, like the healthcare bill did, then we will be willing to work with the Democrats and to make sure that we try and get good solutions in place."

Thune's comments contradict Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Obama's opponent in the 2008 presidential election, who said the Democrats' handling of the healthcare bill process killed hopes of bipartisan support for the rest of 2010.

"There will be no cooperation for the rest of this year," McCain said during an interview with KFYI, Phoenix. "They have poisoned the well in what they have done and how they have done it."

McCain drew a rebuke from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., whose spokesman said the remarks exemplified a Senate GOP that's shown little cooperation this year, The Hill said.