NPR: Republican Candidates Create Stir at Auto Show

Republican Candidates Create Stir at Auto Show

It's a big week in Michigan, one of the most important of the year.

Governor Mitt Romney looks over a Chrysler while visiting the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Downtown Detroit Monday January 14, 2008. All of the Republican hopefuls visited the auto show the day before the Michigan Primary.

David Gilkey, NPR

And we're not talking about today's Republican and Democrat primaries. This week starts the Detroit Auto Show, when car makers show off their new models for the next year (the public part of the show starts on Jan, 19th.) But that doesn't mean politics and the auto industry are mutually exclusive. The Detroit News reports that the top three Republican candidates - Sen. John McCain, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney - caused "pandemonium" yesterday when they attended the car event at Detroit's Cobo Center.

McCain toured the General Motors display, where he said the new Chevy Malibu, named yesterday as North American Car of the Year, "would be competitive with any foreign car."

MIke Huckabee was also impressed with a Chevrolet product, a full-size Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid SUV. The former Arkansas governor owns a 1995 Chevrolet Silverado pickup with 200,000 miles on it. "Maybe it's time to get a new truck," he said.

Mitt Romney told reporters just before he entered the Ford exhibit that "Detroit's going to lead the world."

McCain and Romney also sparred about federal fuel mileage standards, known as Corporate Average Fuel Standards (CAFE). Romney criticized McCain for his support of the tougher fuel standards recently enacted by Congress, and then in retaliation, the McCain campaign sent out a YouTube video of Romney strongly supporting the need for tougher CAFE rules when he was Massachusetts governor.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, who accompanied McCain, said the show was "eye opening" for the candidates. "And it doesn't hurt to be here the day before the primary."

8:00 AM ET | 01-15-2008 | permalink

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