Republican leaders said Saturday that they were worried that Sen. John McCain was heading for defeat unless he brought stability to his presidential candidacy.

As mayor and governor, Sarah Palin used elected office to promote religious causes, sometimes at taxpayer expense and in ways that blur the line between church and state.

A legislative investigator reports the Republican vice presidential nominee violated state ethics laws and abused her power by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.

Republican John McCain, the clock ticking down on a chance to narrow Democrat Barack Obama's lead in polls, on Saturday fended off comments comparing him to a well-known segregationist.

The International Monetary Fund warned Saturday that debt-ridden banks were pushing the global financial system to the brink of meltdown and rich nations had so far failed to restore confidence.