Back to the partisan divide

Both McCain and Obama have tried to play the "reach across the aisle" card heavily this election, especially earlier on in the summer, before the economic crisis hardened partisan lines and both sides dug in, ready to unleash the final bombardments as the election nears it's conclusion. (Normally congress would be in recess right now as many members of the house and senate are up for reelection, and the ones that are not are out campaigning and raising money for the ones who are.)
Unfortunately for everyone, the financial "bailout" or "rescue," or whatever you want to call it has put a huge dent in anyone's plans to hit the stump this week for their party, and this is partly the reason why there's so much tension on the hill this week.
Very early in his campaign, Obama had said that he wanted to "put an end to the partisan divide" of the '90's and present (Receiving outright mockery from the Clinton campaign as a result.) He ran as a fresh faced idealist and outsider, ready to unlock congress and get everyone together at one big table to work out plans and ideas that worked for everyone, his mantra last year was that the best ideas would be put forth, not just the most liberal or conservative (remember the Obamacans?). Nowadays he seems to be humming a different tune. take for instance an interview today he did with John Berman of ABC. When Berman tells Obama he's a "persuasive guy" and asks him if he could've done more to help yesterday's failed vote, Obama in his answer namedrops Democratic congressional leaders and admits that he didn't call any House Republicans lamenting, "I tend not to be that persuasive on that side of the aisle."
Now, whether Republicans pounce on this comment is left to be seen, I for one don't think it would even be that effective, at least until someone can name a single rank-and-file House Democrat that McCain contacted this week.