WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An unexpectedly steep 84,000 U.S. jobs were lost in August and the national unemployment rate hit a five-year high of 6.1 percent, fanning worry ahead of November's presidential vote about rising recession risks. Read more »

WASHINGTON5 (Reuters) - America's pain at the gasoline pump has been years in the making, but there will be a big push in Congress next week, when lawmakers return from summer break, to fix the problem by expanding offshore oil drilling. Read more »

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain beat Democratic rival Barack Obama in the crucial battle to attract U.S. television viewers during their race to the White House, according to figures released Friday. Read more »

ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain cast himself as an independent-minded reformer Thursday and said he had the scars to prove it in a speech that promised Americans "change is coming" if they elect him on Nov. 4. Read more »

ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin touted her small-town roots and swiped at Democrat Barack Obama during a highly anticipated speech to the Republican convention Wednesday, ridiculing her critics as out-of-touch elitists who do not understand everyday life in America. Read more »

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty kept mum on whatever he knows about John McCain's running mate as he watched his daughter's volleyball game Thursday night. Read more »