He won't be inaugurated until Jan. 20, but for all intents and purposes, Wednesday is Day One of President Obama's second term as he and congressional leaders shift their immediate focus to a crucial lame-duck session.
Together, they face the challenge of dealing with the so-called "fiscal cliff" -- a potentially disastrous mix of massive defense cuts, cuts to social programs and tax hikes set to kick in come January, less than two months from now.
So the big question a day after Obama's decisive electoral-vote victory is, will it be gridlock as usual or did Tuesday night's results herald a new era of compromise? The answer is especially urgent in the face of a policy threat that some economists say could trigger another recession if left un-addressed.
“If there is a mandate, it is a mandate to work together,” House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday, adding, “2013 will be different.”
