By Chua Chin Hon, US Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON - PROMISING that the United States would rebuild and emerge powerful once more, President Barack Obama has delivered his most passionate plea yet for hope and confidence in his ambitious economic blueprint.

Within a month of assuming office in January, his administration had pushed through a US$787 billion (S$1.2 trillion) economic stimulus package and unveiled broad plans to rescue the ailing financial and housing sectors.

But slumping stock markets and pitched political battles have combined to cast serious doubts about their ability to halt the US economy's downward spiral.

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