“The prospect of a deep cut in defense spending scheduled for next year is helping push Republicans and Democrats to look for a new budget deal, but the politics of the 2014 midterm elections could complicate any talks,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“In the wake of the just-ended government shutdown, top Republican leaders have told the White House that they are open to rolling back parts of the automatic defense and nondefense spending cuts in any new budget deal. Democrats have broadly supported an easing of the cuts.”

“In exchange, the GOP leaders say they want reductions in entitlement programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, which Democrats say they would only back if a deal raised new revenue, a condition that Republicans oppose.”