. >> for more on the debt ceiling conflicts, we are joined by our washington correspondent, max hoffmantime is running out. any signs of a decision emerging? >> what we have at the moment is a little momentum, that by step going forward. we are not close, probably, to a breakthrough. as you mentioned, the senate republicans have met with barack obama and basically said the same thing, basically constructive, the way ahead will be difficult. having the senate involved now could be a solution because the last three budget or physical compromises emerged because the senate minority mitch mcconnell, who is a republican because the democrats have the majority in the senate, and vice president joe biden, hammered out a compromise. both of them are involved now. after the house has so far failed at finding some kind of compromise. it sort of seems like the heavy hitters have come to the table now. >> the prospect of a debt default is a scary one. how are americans taking it? >> they are scared as well. a majority thinks it is a really bad idea and approval ratings of congress are quite frankly

. >> let's bring in now max hoffman for more on this. we have heard from the president. what is the white house strategy to end the shutdown? >> the strategy is do not relent, of course, because of obama care -- the official version is called the affordable care act -- but also because of the potential much bigger crisis just looming around the corner mid-november. americans have to raise their debt ceiling in order to pay past bills. if they do not do that, it could have devastating effects all around the world. democrats in the white house are saying, "if we budget now, that will just invite republicans to do the same thing mid-november." they are trying to paint republicans as extremists and wait for public pressure to come along to make it harder for republicans to stay in the position they are and at the moment. >> are they willing than to wait all the way until mid-november? how long can the shutdown continue? >> you know, there are no laws on this. the last shutdown, 1995, 1996, was 21 days. it does not seem like the two parties at the moment get along better than