HELP! Simulate background-color/highlight on links

I need the links on an XML loaded menu to simulate css background-color or highlight. Since I first attempted this through CSS the dynamic text box containing the loaded menu is set to read html and all links are function calls through html ascommands.

So far I looked into setSelectedColor which does not work dynamic text (static only)
Actionscript skips background-color in CSS. TextField.backgroundColor affects the entire text field but I need to change only the string of text that the cursor rollsover on links.

It blows my mind how overly complicated this is in Flash.

Is there a way to do this? Existing tutorial perhaps? If not can you recommend a good XML scrolling menu tutorial using duplicate movieclip method since most likely I’ll have to change my methodology in creating this menu.

thanks

mike