Democrats Meeting with Obama on Deficits

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dozens of House Democrats are at the White House for talks with President Barack Obama on cutting the U.S. deficit, a day after their Republican counterparts met with the president on the same topic.

Thursday's session is likely to be more harmonious since Democrats largely support Obama's goals of reducing the deficit through spending cuts and tax increases. Republicans say tax increases are off the table, and they used their session to call for more leadership from Obama and more specifics on his plans.

Obama spokesman Jay Carney says that Obama has already produced a clear plan and what is needed now is to find common ground as a deadline to raise the government debt limit approaches. Carney points to negotiations being led by the vice president as the vehicle for compromise.