Obama touts policies at Democratic fundraiser, notes foreign challenges, domestic achievements

President Barack Obama says he's willing to forge partnerships with Republicans, but he's urging donors to work extra hard to elect Democrats to Congress.

He says Congress has been resistant to ideas that have been bipartisan in the past. The House is controlled by Republicans and the Senate is led by Democrats

He cast current foreign challenges and the economic recovery as examples of U.S. leadership.

Obama spoke Monday at a Democratic National Committee dinner for about 65 contributors. Tickets started at $10,000.

The event's host was noted Washington restaurateur Jose Andres.

Outside the fundraiser, a group of immigration advocates demonstrated and called on Obama to take action on his own to ease deportations. Inside, Obama pointed to Andres, who was born in Spain, as a "quintessential" immigrants' story.