WASHINGTON, Feb 4: President Barack Obama sought to recover on Wednesday from his toughest day yet in office after admitting he “screwed up” in a storm over taxes that forced his pick to lead health reform to withdraw.

Mr Obama’s carefully staged push for support of his massive economic stimulus plan was overshadowed as both health czar nominee Tom Daschle and another nominee Nancy Killefer — tapped to be government budget watchdog — withdrew because of tax issues.

In a flurry of television interviews Mr Obama had hoped to pile pressure on lawmakers debating the near $900 billion package in the Senate, but was forced to face down the ethics questions instead.

“I don’t want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards, one for powerful people, and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes,” Mr Obama said in an interview with CNN.

“I think this was a mistake. I think I screwed up.”

Mr Daschle’s demise came hours after Mr Obama’s nominee for White House budget chief Killefer withdrew her nomination, reportedly over her failure to pay past unemployment taxes for household help.—Agencies