can't -- we, i think, i know we don't want to be here, but we're gonna win this i think. >> reporter: at a campaign stop in maryland, president obama pulled an ace out of his sleeve sounding an alarm for a key voting block, seniors. >> in a government shutdown social security checks go out on time. >> reporter: he explains why default is worse than an economic shutdown. >> if an economic shutdown if they don't raise the debt ceiling they don't go out on time. >> reporter: he pressured john boehner to drop obama care concessions. >> call the vote. put it on the floor and let every individual member of congress make up their own minds. and they can show the american people, are you for a shutto do or not. >> reporter: in an exclusive interview with dana bash, harry reid revealed he and boehner originally struck a deal that included spending cuts. he promised you in a private meeting that he would pass a