(For more Reuters DEALTALKS, click ) By Jui Chakravorty Das and Kevin Krolicki NEW YORK/DETROIT, Nov 4 (Reuters) - For Detroit'scash-strapped automakers, this is the calm before the storm. The survival of the troubled U.S. industry now depends on theoutcome of the U.S. presidential election and a resumption oflobbying by the Detroit automakers, the United Auto Workers unionand auto parts suppliers for a desperately needed federal aidpackage. Most immediately, the shape and scope of any federal rescuecould determine whether Chrysler LLC is merged with General MotorsCorp (GM.N: Quote, , Research, ), spun off into parts or pushed toward bankruptcy,according to people involved in still-developing talks betweenChrysler's private equity owner and other automakers. Both presidential candidates, Democrat Barack Obama andRepublican John McCain, have expressed support for federalassistance for the auto industry but have not committed to anyspecific proposals. Obama, who is supported by the UAW, is widelyseen as more sympathetic to the industry's plight. Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, , Research, ), which mortgaged its assets in 2006 toraise $23 billion, is in the strongest position of the DetroitThree. But Ford's top U.S. executive, Mark Fields, has said thatFord would want 'parity' in any federal aid offered to GM andChrysler. The Bush administration said last week that it was working toexpedite the delivery of up to $25 billion in already approvedlow-cost loans to help automakers retool older factories to makemore fuel efficient cars. But the industry now needs a bigger cash infusion and one withfewer strings attached to ride out a downturn in sales that hasrun beyond the darkest forecasts of just a few months ago,advisers and political allies of the automakers say. The UAW has pushed for another $25 billion in low cost loansto offset health care costs. Other suggestions from GM andChrysler include tax incentives for new car buyers, but the finalform of any industry rescue package will now be up to the nextadministration. GM and Chrysler's owner Cerberus Capital Management last weeksuspended work toward a merger that would combine the loss-makingauto operations of the No. 1 and No. 3 U.S. automakers, sourceswith knowledge of those talks have said. GM had pushed for up to $10 billion in U.S. government aid tosupport an acquisition of Chrysler, according to the sources, whowere not authorized to discuss the talks. GM's senior leadership remains interested in pursuing thedeal, depending on the terms of federal aid made available, thesources said. DON'T FIRE THE TAXPAYERS But the lobbying effort led by GM Chief Executive Rick Wagonerfor merger-related aid hit a dead end with the Bush administrationlast week amid concern about the tens of thousands of jobs thatwould be lost in a deal. 'You can't ask for taxpayer money for a merger and then go outand fire the taxpayers,' said one person familiar with the mergerdiscussions.