AFP - Republican John McCain confessed Monday his White House odds looked daunting as rival Barack Obama built a commanding poll lead, but insisted he was the experienced hand that a nation in crisis requires.

AP - The plans of presidential candidates are never set in stone, if only because circumstances and the makeup of Congress change after the election. The uncertainty is even deeper in this election because Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain laid out most of their agenda before the government committed up to $700 billion to address the financial crisis.

Reuters - Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, seeking to stave off a recession that many fear is near, pushed on Monday for a second economic stimulus package and greater regulation of financial markets.

AP - House Democrats and Republicans pushed dueling economic aid plans Monday as they jockeyed for political advantage on addressing a crisis that is shaping the last weeks of a high-stakes election.

Reuters - U.S. automakers could turn to Congress after the November election to try to expedite $25 billion in government-backed loans, which Detroit manufacturers consider crucial to reversing their steep downward spiral.

AP - Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, married with a child, declined to say Monday whether he had carried on an affair with a former aide and paid to keep her quiet, then called for an investigation by the House ethics committee into his own conduct.

AP - Embattled Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska plans to call his wife, Catherine, as one of his defense witnesses in the corruption trial involving renovations at their Alaskan chalet.

AFP - Republican John McCain Monday desperately sought to win back voters hit by the economic crisis and flocking in droves to Democrat Barack Obama, saying he had a plan to stop the meltdown.

Reuters - Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said on Monday the ailing U.S. economy needs a second stimulus package.