at the white house. the president and the two most powerful men on capitol hill try to avert a shutdown that could have a devastating effect on the local economy. good evening. that meeting just ended. steve handlesman is out at the white house with more. reporter: actually on the deal. no deal, that s the headline and bottom line tonight. president obama on the road today in pennsylvania and new york came back to the white house. he promised yesterday that if there was no deal here in washington to avert a potential partial government shutdown at midnight friday/saturday, he would call the big guys to the white house. he rang them up again tonight. boehner, reid, and they talked for a while. came out, and they were all more optimistic sounding nan before, but the president said no deal and he cited one government worker, a guy named henderson who he says would lose his paycheck if congress can t come up with a plan by friday mid nig night. here s the president. i m c