President Barack Obama says he doesn't expect Congress to breach the deadline to increase the nation's borrowing limit.
He says he's willing to negotiate changes to his signature health care law and to find ways to reduce spending, but stresses he will not bargain until after Congress reopens the government and passed a new debt ceiling.
Obama says there's a majority of lawmakers in the House who would vote to end the partial government shutdown and raise the credit limit without conditions.
Obama spoke during an interview with The Associated Press.
The government is expected to hits its $16.7 trillion debt ceiling in mid-October. Failure to raise it could lead to a first-ever default. Republicans want cuts in federal benefit programs and future deficits in exchange for their votes.
In the same interview, President Obama said he'd think about changing the name of the Washington Redskins football team if he were the owner.
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Obama said he's sure Redskins fans don't mean offense.
But he said American Indians feel strongly that the name is degrading. He said he's not sure that the fans' attachment to the name should override those "real legitimate concerns."
Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed to never change the name, despite the pressure.
Obama added that he doesn't have a stake because he doesn't have ownership of any football team.
He joked it may be fun after he's out of office -- but he'd probably look at a basketball team first.