Democrats face a dilemma over what their strategy should be as a Jan.19 funding deadline approaches and bipartisan talks over immigration and other key issues have so far failed to produce a deal, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
One of the most difficult questions they face is: are they willing to force a government shutdown in search of political victories or will the hardball tactic for which they have long slammed Republicans come back to weaken their appeal to swing voters in this year's midterm elections.
Although Republicans have majorities in both chambers of Congress, they do not have the Senate "super majority" of 60 votes needed for major legislation such as a long-term spending bill, so the backing of at least nine Senate Democrats is needed.
A main sticking point is that a growing number of Democratic congressmen have said they will not support any spending bill unless the fate of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients is secured. President Donald Trump, however, has said he will not agree to that unless he gets funding for a wall on the Mexican border, something which Democrats reject.
The Democrats have an internal split between those up for re-election, especially in GOP-leaning states who have an eye on the swing voter and those who want to elevate their national profile by appealing to the liberal base, according to the Post
"It's a very tricky business to say we can pin a shutdown on one party and one party alone," George Washington University associate professor of political science John Sides told Vox.
Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt appeared to agree, telling The Washington Post that "I think it's a loser for everybody," although he reflected GOP fears of the repercussions from a shutdown by adding that "it's probably more of a loser if you're in control."
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