*Obama says country "in a very difficult spot"

*Presses congressional leaders to act on stimulus

*Former Clinton chief of staff Panetta named for CIA

By David Alexander and Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama pressed congressional leaders on Monday to pass his huge spending and tax-cut package amid signs the centerpiece of his economic stimulus plan may face delays.

"We are in a very difficult spot," Obama told reporters after a meeting his economic advisers. "The situation is bad. The situation is getting worse."

Obama said he wants to sign a bill approving his economic stimulus package -- now put at about $775 billion over two years -- shortly after taking office on Jan. 20.

He took the time to personally push the proposal on Monday, meeting with top leaders on Capitol Hill in an effort to forge bipartisan support for the deal that some Republicans are now questioning.

"It is clear that we have to act and we have to act now to address this crisis and break the momentum of the recession, or the next few years could be dramatically worse," he said.