Obama Calls for Immigration Law By End of the Year

Still, White House officials say they believe that the partial government shutdown, rather than poisoning the political atmosphere, may have created an opportunity for collaboration with Republicans seeking to repair their image, which polls show took a hit during the prolonged fight over financing the government and extending the nation's borrowing limit.

Moreover, Obama made a point of underscoring support for an immigration bill from the members of the business community, traditional Republican allies who criticized Republican tactics that led to the partial shutdown and to brinkmanship over a potentially economy-jarring default on US debt.

The White House took notice when the Republican leader of the House, Speaker John Boehner, indicated on Wednesday that he was hopeful that immigration legislation could be done before year's end.

But Republican strategists also say the most opportune time to act might not come until after next year's 2014 primary elections, when lawmakers will be freer to vote without fear of having to run against a more conservative challenger.

And while Obama called for the House to pass a large bill that could then be reconciled with the Senate version, House Republicans want to approach any changes in piecemeal fashion, a process that at best would push any significant progress into next year.

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