The meeting revealed that Bush's proposal had been suddenly sidetracked by fellow Republicans in the House, who refused to embrace a plan that appeared close to acceptance by the Senate and most House Democrats.

Paulson begged Democratic participants not to disclose how badly the meeting had gone, dropping to one knee in a teasing way to make his point according to witnesses.

And when Paulson hastily tried to revive talks in a nighttime meeting near the Senate chamber, the House's top Republican refused to send a negotiator.

"This is the president's own party," Frank said at the time. "I don't think a president has been repudiated so strongly by the congressional wing of his own party in a long time."

"What we have right now is total chaos brought by injecting presidential politics into very serious negotiations," New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said on NBC.

The presence of McCain and Obama at the White House session indeed lent a greater aura of urgency — and personal intensity — to the discussion.

Asked Friday whether an agreement appeared likely by the end of the weekend, Frank said: "It depends on the House Republicans dropping this revolt against the president and cooperating in trying to amend the plan and at this point I can't give you a yes or no because it's up to the House Republicans and their war, I think, on behalf of Sen. McCain, with President Bush."

McCain's leadership in the negotiations "is to try to stop us from yelling at each other, announcing deals that don't exist, to actually talk to the House and the Senate and get agreement and then go to the press," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on NBC's "Today" show: "Try to create organization out of chaos. Three days ago (Sen.) Harry Reid said there'll be no deal without John McCain's support. Nothing happened for three days. John comes back to town, now he's being criticized for coming back."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, asked if a way can be found to an accord any time soon, said that "it will happen because it has to happen. I would hope we could come to agreement within the next 24 hours so we could put the bill in writing and bring it to the floor. That's really up to the House Republicans."

Shelby, however, said he has a letter from some 200 economists saying the plan as structured by Paulson "is a mistake and won't work."

"I say this will not solve the problem," he said on ABC's "Good Morning America.:"

"We're going to spend close to a trillion dollars, we're going to borrow it, I say we can do better," Shelby said.

Republicans and Democrats alike seemed unsure which way McCain was leaning. His campaign's statement late Thursday shed little light.