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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Obama and Romney to have White House lunch | Obama and Romney to have White House lunch |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama is to have lunch at the White House with defeated Republican election rival Mitt Romney, officials have confirmed. | US President Barack Obama is to have lunch at the White House with defeated Republican election rival Mitt Romney, officials have confirmed. |
| Thursday's face-to-face will be their first meeting since Mr Obama overcame Mr Romney in the 6 November election. | Thursday's face-to-face will be their first meeting since Mr Obama overcame Mr Romney in the 6 November election. |
| On election night Mr Obama pledged to meet the former Massachusetts governor for talks on how to "move this country forward". | On election night Mr Obama pledged to meet the former Massachusetts governor for talks on how to "move this country forward". |
| The pair sparred in a bitter campaign and are said to have little rapport. | The pair sparred in a bitter campaign and are said to have little rapport. |
| Over the course of three presidential debates, Mr Obama and Mr Romney interrupted each other frequently and sniped aggressively over policy and principle. | Over the course of three presidential debates, Mr Obama and Mr Romney interrupted each other frequently and sniped aggressively over policy and principle. |
| 'Fiscal cliff' talks | |
| However, they are now to meet in the private dining room at the White House. | |
| The media will not be permitted to cover the lunch, the White House said on Wednesday. | |
| "Only the two men will be in the room and I'm sure it will be a useful discussion," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters on Wednesday. | "Only the two men will be in the room and I'm sure it will be a useful discussion," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters on Wednesday. |
| The meeting comes as Mr Obama and the Democrats negotiate with congressional Republicans over the impending "fiscal cliff" - a combination of tax rises and spending cuts set to occur on 1 January. | The meeting comes as Mr Obama and the Democrats negotiate with congressional Republicans over the impending "fiscal cliff" - a combination of tax rises and spending cuts set to occur on 1 January. |
| The measures were partly put in place within a 2011 deal to curb the yawning US budget deficit, but also include the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans. | The measures were partly put in place within a 2011 deal to curb the yawning US budget deficit, but also include the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans. |
| During the campaign, Mr Romney called for sharp spending and tax cuts to fix the deficit. Mr Obama insists the wealthy should pay more in taxes. | During the campaign, Mr Romney called for sharp spending and tax cuts to fix the deficit. Mr Obama insists the wealthy should pay more in taxes. |
| Mr Romney has dropped out of sight since the election, and analysts say he has little influence on congressional Republicans. | Mr Romney has dropped out of sight since the election, and analysts say he has little influence on congressional Republicans. |