Political Costs of Shutdown Worry Both Parties

More and more Republican lawmakers are teetering toward funding the government with Obamacare strings attached, says Susan Ferrechio, chief congressional correspondent for the Washington Examiner.

"There's a group of Republicans who are beginning to really worry about whether this was a good idea," Ferrechio told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.

"[They believe] maybe they should just go ahead and pass this short-term measure that does not touch Obamacare so they cannot be blamed for this ongoing shutdown."

But Ferrechio thinks Democrats also are starting to fret about Americans' perception of them.

"I get the sense that Democrats are worried,” she said. They say they're not, and they look like they're going for the jugular with the Republicans on this. But I also get the sense that they know that they could lose in this as well, and they are also potentially willing to deal.

"You already heard them talk about medical tax — 2.3 percent, $30 billion over 10 years. They're willing to potentially strike that out of the healthcare law, maybe [maybe also strike out] this language on staff subsidies for health insurance.

"It's not like they're not willing to go anywhere on this, and the fact that they are willing shows that they know that they have something potentially to lose here. …

"Don't forget, ultimately, with a shutdown, everybody hates Congress. Their approval ratings are in the dumpster."