WASHINGTON -- Politico, a US political news website which has become one of the most popular in the country since its launch 20 months ago, announced plans on Monday to expand its coverage.

Politico (www.politico.com) said it planned to carry out a "major post-election expansion designed to broaden its coverage of Washington governance and national politics."

It said it would expand its staff to more than 100 employees from the current 85 and increase publication of its newspaper to four days from the current three days when Congress is in session.

Circulation of the print edition of Politico would be increased to more than 32,000 from the present 27,000.

Politico said six staffers, including Mike Allen, a former Time magazine and Washington Post reporter, will cover the White House from November 5, the day after the presidential election between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

"Our goal is simple: We want to offer readers the fastest, smartest, most authoritative coverage of Washington in the nation," said Politico publisher Robert Allbritton.

"These are important times and we plan to unleash the best reporters in the country on the most important story: how the new Congress and president govern in this historic period."

According to Nielsen Online, Politico, which was launched in January 2007, was the 10th most visited US newspaper website in the country in August with more than 3.6 million unique visitors.