With Talk of Cars, Romney Courts Michigan Voters
Mitt Romney smiles before autographing a 40-year-old campaign poster of his father, the late Michigan Gov. George Romney, in Southfield, Mich., Sunday. (AP)
By Juliet Eilperin
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- During a rally this afternoon before several hundred supporters at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Romney told the crowd that unlike policy makers who have ignored Michigan's economic plight, he could help "build a brighter, prosperous future" here by championing the auto industry.
"Michigan is facing challenging times," he said, wrapping up his speech with the declaration: "Washington is aware of it. Have they done anything? No! I will commit this to you: if I am president of the United States, I will not rest until Michigan is back." The crowd burst into applause, and as rock music played, the candidate left the stage.
In recent days Romney has repeatedly attacked McCain for backing stricter corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, standards, arguing it amounts to an "unfounded mandate" that would cripple the auto industry. "Let's take those burdens off and let our companies compete," he told his supporters at the rally.
On CBS's Face the Nation yesterday, Romney told Bob Schieffer, "We need to be investing in basic science here. And we need to stop throwing anvils around the neck of the domestic auto manufacturers. This idea, for instance, of saying we're going to have unilateral caps and trades on greenhouse gases that are not participated by other nations, that would only hurt Detroit. It would only hurt American manufacturers. We've got to stop thinking about being popular around the world and doing what's right for America."
Romney, who as Massachusetts governor initially supported but then abandoned a regional pact in the Northeast to limit greenhouse gases, added he believes the U.S. should be "investing substantially more in basic science and research" than the current $4 billion a year it devotes to energy and fuel technology-related science.
Both Romney and his surrogates played up his Michigan ties yesterday, arguing he was uniquely positioned to relate to Michigan voters. Just as Romney told Schieffer he is the only GOP candidate "that's got the automobile industry in my blood veins," he told the group in Southfield that he alone could remember the Motor City's glory days. "I grew up in this state," he said. "I remember when Michigan was the pride of America."
Before Romney took the stage at today's rally, Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) led the audience in a question-and-answer routine that included questions such as "Who is the only candidate running for president who was born in Michigan?" and "Who is the only candidate who was raised right here in Oakland County?" -- to which the crowd responded, screaming, "Mitt Romney!"
But for the most part Romney -- who gave few policy details in the speech, focusing instead on his childhood reminiscences and a handful of broad governing ideals -- was speaking to the converted at yesterday's rally, and many attendees backed him for reasons that had little to do with Michigan's economic state. Dan and Helen Sobeki , who live in Stanley Heights, said they back his opposition to taxes and illegal immigration; Jean and Philip Winteringham, who decades ago immigrated to the U.S. from Scotland and England, respectively, said they were drawn to Romney's stance on immigration.
"We came the legal way. We had interviews," said Philip Winteringham, who operated an auto parts business along with his wife. "Neither of us have drawn a penny off the United States government."
Still, Romney's backers said his support for the auto industry's legislative agenda would help sway Michigan voters. Knollenberg said President Bush "has not been helpful" to American manufacturers by approving the first new fuel efficiency standards in 32 years, which require vehicle fleets to average 35 miles per gallon by 2020. U.S. companies will not be able to achieve that goal "without putting a lot more money into the vehicle, and Governor Romney knows that," said Knollenberg, adding a sizeable portion of that money should come from the federal government.
While Congress appropriated a few million dollars to help auto manufacturers last year, Knollenberg said, "We did ask for a lot more, and nothing happened....Romney's a friend of the auto industry, which means a lot in Michigan."
McCain's campaign pointed out in an e-mail that Romney's embrace of less efficient autos is yet another policy reversal for their opponent. While campaigning for governor, Romney proposed decreasing the excise tax on fuel-efficient cars. In newspaper interviews at the time, Romney said that such a move could lead to higher taxes on SUVs, though he never proposed raising them.
A few attendees at the rally said that while it was not their top voting issue, they appreciated Romney's current support for their right to drive larger, less efficient cars.
"The American people have a love affair with their cars. When I came here, I had never seen such large cars," Winteringham said, adding that now, he loves large autos too and owns a Cadillac sedan as well as Chevy Suburban. "A gas guzzler," he said, with pride in his voice.
Posted at 7:03 PM ET on Jan 13, 2008
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Posted by: akbriskwood | January 15, 2008 4:27 PM
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has taken a 6% lead over U.S. Sen. John McCain according to results of a tracking poll conducted Saturday, Sunday and Monday, January 12-14, 2008. Romney leads with 35% to McCain's 29%. Mike Huckabee is third at 12%. Rudy Giuliani (3%) and Ron Paul (4%) have both dropped while Fred Thompson (4%), and Duncan Hunter (2%) have stayed the same since last night's tracking. Seven percent say they will vote "uncommitted" while 4% are undecided.
The telephone tracking poll of likely voters in the Michigan Republican Primary Election is being conducted by Mitchell Interactive. Mitchell Interactive is an East Lansing, Michigan and Washington, DC based national political polling and market research company. The survey of 589 likely Republican Presidential Primary voters has a margin of error of +-4.1% at the 95% level of confidence.
"As the undecided voters make up their minds, more are turning to Mitt Romney than to John McCain. We have also seen the participation among Republicans increase to 80% at the end of phoning tonight. That means that 80% of the voters taking part in the GOP Primary identify themselves as Republicans," Steve Mitchell, president of Mitchell Interactive said.
"Romney is very strong with older voters. He loses among 18-39 year olds, ties with 40-59 year olds, and wins by a big margin with voters 60 and over, the same voters who remember his father, Gov. George Romney, the best," Mitchell said.
Steve Mitchell has been the most accurate pollster in Michigan in the last four presidential campaigns. Polling for the Detroit News in the 2000 MI GOP Primary, his final polling correctly had John McCain winning over George W. Bush. Polling again for the Detroit News in the 2004 MI Dem Primary, his final polling correctly showed the top
four candidates in the order they finished and had John Kerry at 52%, his final margin.
In the 2000 General Election, his final poll had Gore leading by 5% in Michigan, he won by 5%. In the 2004 General Election, his final polling had Kerry leading by 2% in Michigan, he won by 3%. In his final national poll for WDIV-TV in Detroit, he had Bush winning by 4%, he won by 3%.
Posted by: braddahmj | January 15, 2008 12:50 AM
Mitt Romney, as a CEO, bought bankrupt companies, broke them up and sold off the profitable pieces, and disposed of the non profitable pieces. As CEO, he sent AMERICAN jobs overseas to FOREIGN countries. Fact check Mr. Romney before buying his saving the state of Michigan routine. There is blood from laid off workers on his hands....check him out...learn the truth.
Posted by: drivensnow2525 | January 14, 2008 11:42 PM
Alert *** Alert *** Alert ***
Question:
Would you like to own a brand new high definition 60" LCD / Plasma TV with reclining chair with large cup holder for your cold beverage of your choice?
Answer:
Huckabee! He is the ONLY candidate out of the presidential field willing to implement the "Fair-Tax" system.
Look at your paycheck and see how much they are taking out of your paycheck for taxes... go ahead go look at it now.
Now take the cost of a brand new 60" LCD / Plasma high def TV and reclining chair (& cup holder) and divide that number by how much taxes they are taking out.
Example:
$3,000 (TV cost, chair) / $325 tax holding each week = 8 weeks
That''s it, only 8 weeks to get this great deal!!!
But if you vote for any other candidate it will take years to save up for this! Say you put away $10 each week, well that''s 4 years!
So if you want to become poorer then vote for McCain, Romney, Thompson, Guiliani, Paul, Clinton, Obama, Edwards..... but if you want to become richer vote for Huckabee!
PS - Then after buying a new 60" high def TV in 3 weeks, let's go for a :
1. Brand new set of Ping Golf Clubs in week number 4 to 6...... then
2. Relaxing cruise to the Bahamas in week 7 - 10 then
3. Huge diamond ring for your wife or girlfriend in weeks 11 - 15 then
4. XBox 360 for your kids in week 16 - 17 then
5. Blazing fast big screen computer in week 18 - 20
6. John Deer Tractor in week 21 - 24
7. New puppies for your kids and wife in week 25 - 28
8. United Way donation in week 29 - 30
9. Brand new spiffy suit and tie in week 31 - 33
10. Ten dozen roses for your beautiful wife or girlfriend in week 34 - 35
11. Huge collector authentic train set for your kids in weeks 36 - 37
12. Large cheery oak desk for your office in weeks 38 - 40
13. Food for the hungry in your neighborhood donation in weeks 41 - 43
14. Family trip to Diseyland in weeks 44 - 49
15. Seasons pass to your favorite sports team all home games in week 50 - 52
,,,, And then there's next year's purchases and the next year after that and the next year after that and so on.
ONLY ONLY ONLY if you vote for Huckabee. He will make you and your family a lot Richer!!! No other candidate is offering to implement the Fair tax where you get 100% of your paycheck!
Vote 4 Mike Huckabee! His Huck-a-bus is ready to board, he is saying "All Aboard!!!" Let's jump on the Huck-a-bus NOW and increase the speed from Huck-a-Boom to Huck-a-Bam-Boom speed!
Just look at all those great things you can purchase or give to needy families if Huckabee becomes President! Huckabee is taking us to a new American spirit on Higher ground! Let's do it for the Gipper!!!
Posted by: vote4mikehuckabee | January 14, 2008 9:59 PM
You mean a person that buys elections and America?
(per Newsweek) http://www.newsweek.com/id/91664
"Romney had hired Warren Tompkins as a South Carolina consultant. Known admiringly in the political trade as "the god of hell," Tompkins is legendary in the state as a disciple of the late Lee Atwater, an old Bush-family operative and perhaps the most renowned modern practitioner of campaign dark arts. The old Atwater attack machine may have been switched off, or at least turned down. Still, Tompkins, who has always denied authorship of the nastiest attacks on McCain in 2000, tells NEWSWEEK that he doubts the state's primary will suddenly become a model of civility."
(source Newsweek)
Posted by: marinepatriot | January 14, 2008 4:05 PM
I was visiting my father in Idaho when the announcement was made that Mitt Romney had agreed to come in to turn around the Salt Lake Olympics which were mired in scandal. What he did there - as a volunteer - was truly amazing. I remember also the intense security challenge presented after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It was the first large event of such a type after 9/11. They had to think of every contingency. He covered all the bases, turned the games around, and even turned the debt into a profit. It was a fantastic, magnificent event that brought back our American pride. He would do the same as President. He knows how to get things done. And as for his money - he has never taken a dime in public service. He didn't take a salary in Massachusetts and has vowed the same if elected President. He believes in giving people opportunity, not handouts and dependency.
Posted by: avelardi | January 14, 2008 3:27 PM
Willard Mitt Romney says, "I didn't know what my ads said" Well what does he know? He knows he can buy a lot of people with his dirty money. Michigan is hurting but Mitt is high on the hog. Will he actually follow though with all of those promises? Lets be real in Michigan huh Willard?
Watch Mitt say he has no idea what is in his negative attack ads:
Posted by: marinepatriot | January 14, 2008 2:39 PM
Romney is as honest as they come; that's why he was chosen to turn-around (change) the scandal plagued olympics in order to make the sponsors confident again.
Romney, unlike McCain, believes in protecting American industry - especially the auto industry - as a matter of national security and economic competativeness with other countries. This is not a new thing for Mitt. He would rather have free trade in a utopian world, but he lives in reality.
McCain will kill Michigan's economy by placing global warming related federal red tape all over the auto industry. He's already talking about Hybrid's and Detroit. He actually believe's in Global warming! He wouldn't veto Al Gore influenced legislation. Yikes!
Vote for Romney! Not McCain! Michigan and the US economies will both go down when McCain approves a ton of liberal legislation.
Posted by: jasonroiz | January 14, 2008 2:14 PM
To Willard Romney cars are:
1. Ramblers from which his father made the family fortune
2. Station wagons with a roof to house a dog.
3. Limos from which he and his fellows ride to board meetings.
Posted by: adirondackal | January 14, 2008 12:55 PM
Unfortunately, a vote for Romney will end up being a vote wasted. However you feel about him, Sen McCain is the only candidate presently in the running that will be able to defeat whicever candidate the Dems field. A "traditional GOP" candidate is going to get cooked.
Ironically, the most American (USA parts and labor)car that you can buy today is, you guessed it: the Toyota Tundra...
Posted by: sam | January 14, 2008 12:30 PM
Anne drives a Cadillac SUV, and Mitt a red Mustang...and probably has other cars:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-perfect24nov24,1,7485090.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Posted by: bryan.langston | January 14, 2008 11:59 AM
Romney's stand on taxes? He raised them and calls them fees. His health care legislation crippled small businesses. He is a great speaker but read through the lines. What exactly is he proposing to help MI? Romney is a businessman and what he'll do to Michigan will be 'just business'. Don't buy this guy's snake oil. He is the John Kerry of the Republican party from the hair, to the vast personal fortune to finance his campaign, to being from Massachusetts, to saying whatever it takes to get elected, to the inevitable loss if he is elected the candidate. Am I the only one who sees this?
Posted by: donttreadonme | January 14, 2008 10:40 AM
DanLounsbury,
Ya, you are right. I have no business talking about his parents. I am just tired of Mitt Romney and his false promises. He flip flops on what he stands for. It has always just made me sick when I see people pretend to believe in something. I think it is very clear that he takes the stand for whatever the trend is. I think Mitt Romney is a joke. I would vote for Obama if Mitt makes it. At least Obama stands up for what he believes. We need stability in our country.
Posted by: marinepatriot | January 14, 2008 1:40 AM
Romney is the best candidate by far for Michigan. He has strong ties to Michigan and Mitt Romney and his wife were both born and raised in Michigan. Romney is the best candidate to fix the Michigan economy. He fixed and started many huge companies including Staples, Domino's Pizza, etc. He also fixed the Olympics and made them a huge success as their CEO. He was specially recruited and chosen for the job after problems went down with the Olympics. He more than solved those problems.
Posted by: poliscistudent | January 13, 2008 11:50 PM
Marine Patriot,
If by "honest candidates" you are referring to Mike Huckabee, we can all have a laugh at your sarcasm. We all know that Mike Huckabee is so hypocritically dishonest that it really is a funny joke, and we all need a good laugh.
If you were referring to "strait talker" McCain we also chuckle a bit, (although not as much as Huckabee, who's dishonest and unchristian campaign has been just hilarious to watch), we think this is also funny. What we find funny is how the Straight Talk express still tells people that Illegals would need to go to the back of the line, when he knows that to be utterly false. (What's not funny is how mad he gets when he gets called on it. That's just scary)
So yes, Marine Patriot, you have served well, and its good to see that for all the terrible things you may have had to go through to protect your country, you have not lost your sense of humor.
Now, on a serious note. When you served, did you join to protect only your religious freedom, or all? Because I have seen a few of your posts, and it's obvious that your love of Huckabee and hatred for Romney is purely religious based.
Posted by: scardston | January 13, 2008 11:13 PM
Dear Marine Partiot:
Romney's parents were salt of the earth. I am not worthy to unloose the buckle on George Romney's shoe. Mitt's mother lost a close relative to an illegal abortion and was supportive of choice (especially in cases of rape or incest) due to the dramatic impact that experience had on her. Mitt's mother loved God and this country and shame on you for casting aspersions on their memory.
Romney spent alot of money not trying to "buy your votes" in Iowa. He did it to win Iowa and get national name recognition. If unethical nixonian liberal demagogue Huckabee ("vote for me I'm a Christian; Ignore all the hardrives I destroyed at the governor's office; don't talk about my felon son who killed a dog for fun at scout camp; ignore Wayne Dumond who I released because he told me he had found Jesus in prison") had not played identity politics Romney would have won Iowa. But it doesn't matter. He got his name recognition up at the top of national polls. He will win Michigan and Nevada, be second in SC and have a large lead going into Super Tuesday.
Posted by: DanLounsbury | January 13, 2008 9:37 PM
I drive a BMW as well ; )
Posted by: JakeD | January 13, 2008 9:22 PM
Mitt drives a BMW.
Posted by: marinepatriot | January 13, 2008 9:05 PM
Romney's dad was a car salesman, and his mom an abortion rights activist. Mitt learned from the best on how to take money form the common man.
Romney is also for abortion rights, he always has been. He spent over 80 million trying to buy our votes in Iowa with negative attack ads against the honest candidates. He has spent $20 to $1 thinking campaigning thinking he can trick the people.
We told Mitt Romney, American cannot be bought. He has been paying anyone he can find to try make the other candidates look bad. Mitt is a Flip Flopper on the issues. Mitt can not be trusted running America.
He lies and says he can bring back jobs that Michigan lost, but we are smarter than that. Mitt cares about the power behind the chair.
Don't let Mitt buy America. America is not for sale. Please do not vote vote this greedy good ole' boy of the Corporate hierarchy.
Posted by: marinepatriot | January 13, 2008 9:02 PM
Hamisdad, I forgot to mention that Governor Romney drives a Ford Mustang. Just in case you eastern liberal coasters don't know what that is, which is highly likely. It is an American vehicle.
Posted by: melabam | January 13, 2008 8:43 PM
I live in Michigan and am an avid supporter of Romney. He is the best candidate for the state and cares about it.
Don't forget that McCain believes all the hype about Detroit making "ilrelevant vehicles".
McCain wants me to retrain and ignore my engineering degree. Well McCain I don't want to go into the service sector. I want to use my engineering degree. I want to use it in the area I have experience. I will take my chance with preserving my job here if possible.
Posted by: melabam | January 13, 2008 8:40 PM
What make of car does Romney drive?
Posted by: hamishdad | January 13, 2008 8:15 PM
What he said.
Posted by: acorn160 | January 13, 2008 7:57 PM
If Romney win Michigans, he will get the GOP nomination (unless Rudy pulls out a shocker on Super Duper Tuesday) -- mark my words.
Posted by: JakeD | January 13, 2008 7:10 PM
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If Mr. Romney loves Michigan so much, where has he been for the last forty years? Proof will come if he doesn't get elected and still keeps his promise to the people of Michigan!