President Barack Obama is hardening his stance in his firstpost-election confrontation with Republicans, declaring he willmake no deal on the country's fiscal future unless congressionalleaders first accept tax-rate increases on top earners.

During an appearance yesterday on Bloomberg Television, Obama'sfirst media interview since his re-election, the president pairedhis ultimatum on taxes with signals he is ready to make concessionsto Republican House Speaker John Boehner's calls for cuts toentitlement programs such as Medicare health insurance for theelderly.

His demands on taxes and a public relations offensive to engagevoters are a shift from Obama's approach to the budget battles ofthe last two years, reflecting greater political leverage after hisre-election and lessons the administration has drawn from pastnegotiations.