A few weeks ago, the press made a big deal about the fact that John McCain had more houses than he could recall off the cuff. Newsweek has taken the next logical step towards providing the all-important TMI by finding out how many cars each candidate owns. Barack Obama and his wife Michelle make do with just one vehicle; a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid that replaced the senator's un-PC but much cooler HEMI-powered Chrysler 300. McCain takes a more, ahem, liberal approach to vehicle ownership, with 13 cars and trucks to fill his seven garages. If we were wealthy and influential, we too would own a lot of cars. That would give us a tangible link to the Republican nominee, except for the fact that our collection of cars would be a hell of a lot cooler. McCain owns a 2004 Cadillac CTS as his daily driver, and it gets less interesting from there. Rounding out the Maverick's sizable stable is a 2005 VW convertible, a 2001 Honda sedan, a 2007 Ford pickup, a 2008 Wrangler, a 2000 Lincoln, a 2001 GMC SUV, three 2000 NEV Gem electric cars, and a vintage 1960 Willys Jeep. McCain's wife Cindy, who uses drifting as a form of therapy and sits atop a family fortune from her beer distribution company, drives a Lexus with "MS BUD" vanity plates. Nothing in that crop of rides screams "I'm rich and powerful," but if you have seven houses, it makes sense to have at least one vehicle at each residence. What doesn't make sense is that all of those vehicles are about as exciting as sugar free tapioca pudding.
Presumptive Republican nominee for President, John McCain has wrapped up his tour and speaking engagement at General Motors, where the Arizona Senator discussed the U.S.'s current fuel situation and the proliferation of electric cars. Addressing the General's assembled workers, McCain said, "I would support tax credits for Americans who choose to buy the Volt and other automobiles that put us on track to energy independence." McCain later specified that the credit should be $5,000 as "an integral part of our ability to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil."
McCain has already issued his support for federal funding of research and development of battery-powered cars and made it clear that individual states should have the ability to set their own fuel economy standards.
Back in the late seventies and into early eighties, Chrysler had gotten itself into such horrid financial shape that the U.S. government decided to step in and fix the situation itself. Considering the sorry state of affairs that all three of the Detroit automakers find themselves in today, some may wonder if a government-funded bailout is in the cards. Not so much... at least according to John McCain. "Frankly I just don't see a scenario where the federal government would come in and bail out any industry in America today," says the Republican.
So, what plan does McCain have in store for the Detroit 3? More Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac G5s for one, as the Arizona Senator said the above words after touring the plant in Lordstown, Ohio where the GM compact cars are made and a where third shift has just been added. "I am convinced that what is being done at the Lordstown assembly plant is the future of the American auto industry," added McCain.
In more related good news for the U.S. automakers, McCain says he supports nationwide CO2 standards and would oppose any state's individual plans -- California, we're looking at you. The Presidential hopeful also wants to see more fair-trade standards implemented with the other various auto-building nations and quicker violations for unfair practices. We await a response from the Democratic side.
As part of the 2008 Global Automotive Survey, the automotive division of law firm Dykema Gossett PLLC surveyed 46 leading automotive executives in America on their opinions regarding the upcoming presidential race and the forecast for the U.S. automotive industry. The picture that the respondents painted in their responses was anything but bright.
Regarding the three leading presidential candidates, 70% favored Republican Senator John McCain. However, the survey indicated that the favor was due less to McCain's record regarding the automobile industry and more in juxtaposition to those of rival Democratic candidates Senators Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, the latter garnering the most opposition with 57% of respondents viewing an Obama administration as having a potentially negative impact on the industry. The survey also addressed the executives' attitudes towards the future of the carmaking industry in America, in which not a single respondent conveyed a positive outlook, while 87% projected a negative outlook with the remaining 13% responding neutrally.
