The deficit is alarming, but cutting spending on relief and recovery efforts now would worsen the economic slowdown and the suffering of millions of Americans.

BP gas station owners across the country are divided over whether the oil giant stained by its handling of the Gulf spill should rebrand U.S. outlets as Amoco or another name as part of efforts to repair the company's badly damaged reputation.

It's getting ugly out there. In Florida, Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek unveiled his first TV ad Monday, a disco-themed portrait of primary opponent Jeff Greene as a billionaire carpetbagger and Wall Street hustler who "helped to fuel the economic meltdown." Brad Ellsworth also rolled ...

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AP - The Democrats' national chairman on Wednesday trotted out his party's fall election strategy to limit potential GOP gains, claiming Republican goals are inseparable from the tea party's, from killing off Medicare to abolishing the departments of Education and Energy.

AP - The Obama administration, which has been under fire for not developing a concrete plan for mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, says it will hold a conference in next month to discuss their future.

AP - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is helping raise campaign funds for Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul.

AP - Since Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk acknowledged embellishing his military record, the slightest discrepancy in his life story prompts another round of news coverage questioning his honesty as he makes a bid for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat.

AP - Democrats nervously anticipating Rep. Charles Rangel's ethics trial know all about the media frenzy and negative ads accompanying election-season scandals. They generated it themselves in 2006, when Republican Rep. Mark Foley was forced to resign in disgrace.

Reuters - The three Republican senators who backed the financial regulatory overhaul urged President Barack Obama not to appoint a new consumer protection watchdog while Congress is in recess.

AP - Former Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod said Thursday she wants to discuss racial issues with President Obama, who's "not someone who has experienced some of the things I've experienced in life."