U.S. should help auto industry with liquidity: Obama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama would like the government to find additional authority to deal with the liquidity crisis in the American automobile industry, Obama's transition co-chairman said on Tuesday.

John Podesta said Obama stressed the need to help the ailing U.S. auto industry during talks with President George W. Bush at the White House on Monday.

"He's hopeful the government will look for additional authority to deal with the short-term liquidity crisis ... and get onto a program and a plan that would ensure that the auto industry can ... continue as ... independent companies ...," Podesta said in a briefing.

(Reporting by Deborah Charles)