McConnell Will Meet at White House With Obama: Aides

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell accepted an invitation to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House Thursday amid efforts to cut a bipartisan deal to raise the U.S. debt limit, aides said.

McConnell agreed to confer with Obama and other congressional leaders at the White House shortly after the president rejected an invitation to meet with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Obama said Tuesday that he spoke over the weekend with both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders on their impasse over the U.S. debt and deficits and that the discussions are yielding progress.

Obama also told reporters he opposes a short-term deal to raise the nation's debt limit. He said a short-term debt-limit increase would amount to an effort ``kick the can down the road.''