Long Shutdown Gives Democrats Leverage on Debt Limit

“Senate Democrats believe the longer the government remains shut down, the more leverage they will wield in the debt-limit debate later this month,” The Hill reports.

“There is growing sentiment among Democrats that the short-term funding resolution and debt-limit increase should be combined. They claim the issues should be merged to take advantage of Republicans, who are pided and off balance trying to fend off blame for the shutdown.”

Said Sen. Dick Durbin: “This is now all together.”