In an interview with WSB-TV in Atlanta, Obama said "America's stressed out right now," and that he has told Congress "don't play games with this; we've got to make sure that we are fulfilling the full faith and credit of the United States of America."

Republicans have demanded major spending cuts in exchange for their votes on the debt limit, while rejecting Democrats' call for more tax revenue from high-income people.

Arriving back at the Capitol after yesterday's negotiating session, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky described it as "a good meeting."

Cordial Session

Officials from both parties described the session as cordial, following a tense meeting the previous day, and largely devoted to a presentation of options related to health-care spending and tax revenue. The White House pressed for an extension and possible expansion of the current 2 percentage point payroll tax deduction set to expire Dec. 31, said a Democratic official.

Before the White House negotiating session, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada and McConnell were engaged in their own talks on backup options to avert a U.S. default by adding spending controls to a plan that would grant the president unilateral power to raise the debt limit, Reid told reporters yesterday.

Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the chamber's third- ranking Democratic leader, said, while Democrats still want to see a comprehensive deal emerge from the White House-led talks, they are considering modifying a plan McConnell offered earlier this week as a "last-choice" alternative.

Granting Obama Power

McConnell's proposal would grant Obama authority to raise the debt limit in installments unless Congress disapproves by a two-thirds majority -- a near impossibility with the Senate controlled by Democrats -- while Obama would also be required to offer spending reductions.

Those cuts would be advisory, and the debt-ceiling increase would occur regardless of whether lawmakers enact the cuts, McConnell said. The idea drew criticism from both sides of the aisle, particularly from Republicans who said it would fail to curb spending.

Schumer said one option under consideration to build legislative support would couple the McConnell plan with a package of spending cuts smaller than the amount Republicans have demanded -- a dollar in spending reductions for every dollar increase in debt authority.

Another possible means of attracting votes would be to add a commission modeled along the military base-closing panels to recommend additional spending cuts, said two Republican aides familiar with the talks who requested anonymity.

Casting Doubt