President Barack Obama is acknowledging in the wake of this week's election rout of his party that he hasn't been able to successfully promote his economic-rescue message to anxious Americans.

Republicans rode a wave of voter discontent and energy from the ultraconservative tea party movement to easily take control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, while Democrats narrowly held onto the Senate, scripting an uncertain new era of divided government for the final two years of Obama's term.

Obama has not blamed his policies for the loss, but rather a lack of communication with the American people. The president said in an interview with CBS television that he "stopped paying attention" to the leadership style he displayed during his run for the presidency.

He also said he recognizes now that "leadership is not just legislation," and that "it's a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone. And making an argument that people can understand."

"And I think that - we haven't always been successful at that," he said. "And I take personal responsibility for that. And it's something that I've got to examine closely as I go forward."

The president recorded the interview, to be broadcast in full on Sunday night, before leaving on a 10-day trip to Asia.

Before departing Friday for India, Obama said the latest unemployment report _ showing a net gain of 151,000 jobs in the U.S. last month _ was encouraging but "not good enough." In a gesture toward resurgent Republicans, the president said he was open to "any idea, any proposal" to get the economy growing faster.

Congressional Republicans are already asserting their newfound political strength, vowing to seek a quick $100 billion in federal spending cuts and force repeated votes on repeal of Obama's prized health care overhaul when they take control of the House of Representatives in the new session in January.

Democrats had held sway in both the House and Senate since the 2006 election. The balloting Tuesday put House Republican Leader John Boehner into position to be the next speaker, succeeding Democrat Nancy Pelosi. Rep. Eric Cantor, a Republican, seems set to take position of House majority leader.

The parties will have to work together to make progress on such vexing issues as the economy, energy, immigration, education and the war in Afghanistan.

At the White House, Obama said Thursday his administration was ready to work across party lines in a fresh attempt to "focus on the economy and jobs" as well as attack waste in government. In a show of bipartisanship, he invited Republicans and Democrats to the White House at mid-month, and newly elected governors two weeks later.

Though Obama has signaled willingness to compromise with Republicans on issues such as taxes, he has ruled out accepting repeal of the health care measure.

Even before the new Congress comes into office, the old one is scheduled to meet the week after next for a post-election session in a so-called "lame-duck" session.

Obama has urged lawmakers to avert an income tax increase that could take effect Jan. 1, ratify a new arms-reduction treaty with Russia, provide unemployment aid to victims of the recession and extend expiring tax breaks for business.

Congress also must enact a spending bill that permits government to remain in operation, and the issue already has emerged as a likely flash point.

Many House Republicans campaigned on a platform of cutting government spending to levels in effect in 2008, before Obama's economic stimulus bill. Rep. Jerry Lewis, the senior Republican on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, notified Democrats that Republican lawmakers will try to implement the cuts _ an estimated savings of $100 billion _ when Congress considers the spending bill.

However, Democrats got a bit of good news Thursday, as one of two undecided Senate races, in Washington state, went their way, giving them 53 seats in the 100-seat chamber.

The final undecided Senate race is in Alaska, where officials were sorting out write-in votes for incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who ran as an independent after losing the Republican primary to tea party-backed Joe Miller.