WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden insists he can work from a clean slate with Mitch McConnell when they convene for their highly anticipated White House meeting on Wednesday and that a bipartisan infrastructure deal is still possible.
But while the year’s first assembly of congressional leaders in the Oval Office will draw immense attention and the customary photo-op, it is already being clouded by low expectations.
Despite Biden’s best intentions, many in his own party believe McConnell’s history of cold-blooded opposition to Democrats’ agenda means he can’t be trusted. At the same time, Republicans increasingly see Biden as a captive of the left, with less political incentive to compromise by the day.
