Aide: Obama wants more for auto industry

DETROIT, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The ailing U.S. auto industry would receive help from a Barack Obama administration, the Democratic candidate's top economic adviser said.

Aide Jason Furman said, "We should keep all options on the table" when considering aid to the bruised auto industry, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.

Furman made his comments Monday as Obama outlined his economic proposals in Toledo, including one that would double a $25 billion loan package for the auto industry passed by Congress in September.

Another goal of the Illinois senator, Furman said, was to pressure the Bush administration "to do everything possible" to speed up delivery of the first $25 billion in loans for auto companies to retool their plants to build new fuel-efficient cars.

Department of Energy officials said it could take at least a year to deliver the first loans, which analysts said may be too late for the struggling domestic auto industry.