Two key bipartisan senators negotiating an infrastructure deal said Sunday that they are relieved that President Joe Biden re-confirmed his commitment to pass a bipartisan deal, but noted there is still a lot of work left to be done.

       "I was very glad to see the president clarify his remarks because it was inconsistent with everything that we had been told all along the way," said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

       Passage of the negotiated $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal appeared to be in jeopardy Friday, less than a day after it was touted by Biden and a bipartisan group of senators at the White House, including Portman and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

       In a lengthy statement on Saturday, the president attempted to clarify a perceived ultimatum that his support of the infrastructure deal was dependent on the passage of the separate American Families Plan through reconciliation.

       "My comments also created the impression that I was issuing a veto threat on the very plan I had just agreed to, which was certainly not my intent," Biden said in the statement.

       MORE: Biden seeks to walk back perceived veto threat on bipartisan infrastructure deal

       "We were all blindsided by the comments the previous day which were that these two bills were connected," Portman said.

       "It's very clear that we can move forward with a bipartisan bill that's broadly popular not just among members of Congress, but the American people," Portman added.

       "This is the largest infrastructure package in the history of the United States of America," Manchin said in a separate, exclusive interview on "This Week."

       "There has been a doubt in my mind that (Biden) is anxious for this bill to pass and for him to sign it, and I look forward to being there when he does," Manchin continued.

       This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates.