US Senate negotiators yesterday closed in on a proposed compromise backed by the 'lame-duck' White House to bail out stricken US automakers, but there were serious doubts about whether Democratic leaders, after their own plan stalled, would endorse it.

Other lawmakers expressed deep skepticism that the negotiations on fashioning a US$25 billion bailout would be enough to overcome political divisions with Congress down to one, perhaps two more days in its post-election session.

'I won't say it's completely over. I'm still having conversations with people. But it doesn't look good,' said Senator Robert Bennett, a Utah Republican.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, said he was 'anxious to see something happen' but 'frankly, the idea that there's going to be a bill, I think is remote.'

The high theater in the Senate coincided with another day of dramatic Capitol Hill testimony by the chief executives of General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co, and Chrysler LLC for Congress to act to avert possible industry collapse.

'We don't like being here asking for this,' GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner told the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee.

'So at this point, without injections of liquidity ... probably some portion of the domestic industry will not survive,' Wagoner said.

With a Democratic-sponsored bailout proposal -- also US$25 billion -- sinking in the Senate due to weak support and Republican opposition, the fate of a rescue shifted to a plan endorsed by Republicans and the Bush administration.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in remarks on the Senate floor that the compromise 'is the only proposal being considered' that has any chance of becoming law now.