SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Some Republicans demanded the resignation of the party's House leaders while others worked on a "re-branding" strategy emphasizing change to cope with a feared Democratic congressional landslide election in November, a Washington Post report published Thursday stated.

"What we've got is a deficiency in our message and a loss of confidence in the American people that we will do what we say we're going to do", Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told the Post.

The Republican soul searching was triggered by Tuesday's defeat of GOP candidate Charles Davis in what had been considered a safe Republican Mississippi district. Davis lost despite a $1.3 million effort by the party to back him and a last-minute campaign appearance from U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, the Post said. The GOP also has lost special House elections in Louisiana and Illinois in recent months.

The GOP setbacks have Democrats talking of a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the U.S. Senate and gains of up to 20 seats in the House of Representatives.

 BREAKING STORIES

Bilal: Syria open to Lebanese embassy

Circumcision plan rejected by Kenyans

S. Korea to aid Britain with asylum cases

Spain: Decision on tunnel proposal near

Putin focusing on relations with Turkey

Stolen laptops held British secrets

Murray: U.S. oil reserve should be used

U.S. deficit reaches $268 billion

Canadian premiers call for Indian reforms

Report: Musharraf ouster effort seen

Judge denies RNC protesters' request

Poll: Voters want to pick state justices

No progress yet in Zimbabwe talks

Kurds walk out of Iraq parliament

Italy to add fingerprints to ID cards

Stamps to honor black entertainment icons

Husband Charged in Army Nurse's Slaying

'Lack of Recall' Stymied Tillman Probe: HOUSE PANEL RELEASES REPORT ON 2004 DEATH

Lawyer plans to call detainee witnesses

U.S. Sen. Frank a hero to online gamblers