WASHINGTON (AP) — Running out of time, President Barack Obama called Democratic and Republican leaders back to the White House on Wednesday for separate, bottom-line negotiations on how to prevent a disastrous government default — and perhaps cut staggering federal deficits as well.

The talks center on a single but complex question: What will it take to muster enough votes from both parties to muscle legislation through the House and Senate and raise the national debt limit by the Aug. 2 deadline. Obama gathered with the top two Democrats from both the House and Senate, and then was meeting with House Speaker John Boehner and his deputy, Eric Cantor.

Intensity was rising as the country lurched toward an unprecedented default. Congressional leaders say they want to prevent that, but they are far from agreed on how.

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