On Day 10 of the federal government’s partial shutdown, Democrats and Republicans in the Congress have begun to talk about a possible deal — at least on temporarily extending the debt ceiling deadline beyond Oct. 17.

House Democrats met at the White House late Wednesday, where President Obama indicated that he is open to negotiations with House Republicans while still standing firm on a “clean” concurrent resolution to reopen the government and an extension of the debt ceiling deadline.

A group of leaders from the House GOP, meanwhile are scheduled to meet with the president today. The talk is that a six-week extension of the nation’s debt limit may be proposed “as a way to buy time for more negotiations.” But that would not necessarily end the shutdown, and some pols desire a simultaneous fix to both issues.

That said, some Republicans are saying that defaulting on the nation’s debt would be no big deal; others still want to stop Obamacare. But, as the markets grow jittery and public opinion polls show Republicans taking the brunt of the blame for D.C. gridlock, party unity is fraying.

It doesn’t help things that the Capitol is awash in chilly rainfall. The leaves are turning brown as the furloughed workers go one more day without pay.

Photo: Protesters near the Capitol Building Wednesday. (Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair