But in the CR fight, the calculus is simple: Democrats believe they can safely argue that it’s Republicans who are throwing the government into crisis by making unreasonable demands.

In a brief interview Monday, Begich said he would not accept any amendment related to Obamacare attached to the funding bill to keep most federal government operations running. The first-term senator has proposed changes to the health care law but disagreed with the GOP’s push to tie the fight to the must-pass spending bill.

“They should focus on not crashing this economy that we spent five years rebuilding and getting out of the recession,” Begich told POLITICO. “If they would focus on that, maybe the American people will have more respect for what they’re doing over there.”

When asked whether she is open to delaying the individual mandate or other measures to a continuing resolution, Landrieu responded: “absolutely not.”

“I’m not for delaying the mandate, I would vote again for the Affordable Care Act,” Landrieu said. “I am for the Affordable Care Act. Period. End.”