Mitt Romney, President Obama To Have Lunch At White House Tomorrow

Mitt Romney will be visiting the White House tommorrow for a post-election tete-a-tete with President Obama, in what is sure to be a bittersweet meeting for the former governor of Massachusetts.

Mitt Romney’s White House lunch date was announced this morning by White House press secretary Jay Carney. In a brief statement, Carney confirmed the pair — who bitterly battled over the Oval Office before Obama won in an electoral landslide earlier this month — would have their first visit together tomorrow, saying:

“On Thursday, Governor Romney will have a private lunch at the White House with President Obama in the Private Dining Room. It will be the first opportunity they have had to visit since the election.”

During his late-night victory speech, President Obama committed to working with Romney after the GOP candidate lost with a fortuitous 47 percent of the vote. In his words to the country following Romney’s slow-to-arrive concession speech, Obama praised his opponent and said:

“We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply, and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service, and that is a legacy that we honor and applaud tonight.”

In the speech, Obama vowed to work with Romney and suggested a sit-down like the planned White House lunch tomorrow:

“In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.”

No further details on the White House invite to Mitt Romney were disclosed by Carney.