US president-elect Barack Obama said the tax problems of his choice for treasury chief were an embarrassment but said Timothy Geithner's "innocent mistake"should not bar him from the job in which he would lead urgent efforts to revive the economy.
Revelations that Mr Geithner had failed to pay US$34,000 in taxes several years ago derailed Senate Democrats plans to speed him to approval as treasury secretary by the time Mr Obama is sworn in.
Bipartisan backing remained strong but the delay in his confirmation hearing opened the possibility that opposition could build.
Republicans,who have been mostly deferential to Mr Obama's nominees,were blocking efforts to fast-track Mr Geithner's nomination,with at least one Finanve Committee member saying the tax questions deserved greater scrutiny.
Mr Obama had hoped for approval by Tuesday,but given the Republican objections,senators scheduled Mr Geithner's confirmation hearing for next Wednesday,with Senate debate and a vote some time after that.
Mr Obama becomes president at noon on Tuesday.
Two Republicans formally objected to scheduling the hearing tomorrow after the panel disclosed that Mr Geithner had failed to pay some taxes he owed between 2001 and 2004.
"Look,is this an embarrassment for him?Yes.He said so himself.But it was an innocent mistake.My expectation is that Tim Geithner will be confirme,"Mr Obama said.
A number of Democrats and Republicans on the Finance Committee voiced strong support for Mr Geithner,who was phoning senators indicidually in an effort to persuade them his tax problems resulted from innocent errors and were not deliberate attempts to avoid paying tax.
Senators' reactions suggested they viewed his actions more as embarrassing mistakes than as disqualifying misdeeds.
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