The government shutdown is a slow-boil political crisis

The US Capitol prior to daybreak in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. Al Drago/Getty Images

It’s too early to blink, but the pressure is slowly beginning to rise.

The government shutdown drama is still in its opening act with Democrats and Republicans each heaping blame on the other side.

And despite deepening partisan bitterness in Washington, nothing has changed the equation that led to the impasse: Republicans and Democrats both saw a greater political advantage in letting the government close than in keeping it open.

But the earliest signs were evident Wednesday of the political strains that will eventually crack the unity of one or both parties — whether it takes days or weeks — and end the standoff.

Day One saw the rollout of initial battleground strategies:

The White House