Washington, Jan 24: John McCain, the Republican Arizona Senator who was placed opposite Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential polls, has praised the latter as someone who has "learned a lot" in the first two years of his presidency, and improved his politics following last year's mid-term polls.

CBS News quoted McCain, as saying that Obama "has learned a lot in the last two years," creating a situation that could see Republicans working with him.

"He is a very intelligent man. I think he''s doing a lot of right things. This emphasis on cutting spending that we''ll be talking about... was something that obviously was not talked about in the last two years. I think there''s common ground because I think the president realized, as a result of the November elections, that the American people have a different set of priorities," he added.

He also praised Obama for focussing on `cutting spending', a message that Rebublicans had been pressing of the November mid-term elections.

Following the Arizona condolence speech, Obama won back the hearts of disappointed people in the country, including McCain who called him a "patriot" who wants to "advance our country's cause."

"I disagree with many of the president's policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country's cause," McCain said. (ANI)