Republican Candidates Go for a Spin in Detroit

Republican candidates for the presidential nomination dropped in on the Detroit motor show yesterday to emphasize their dedication to helping the region's shrinking car industry and show off their knowledge of gas-electric hybrid propulsion systems.

Mitt Romney made a beeline for the Chrysler stand, telling the company's chairman, Bob Nardelli: "My first job after high school was as a plant guard at Chrysler. After my first year in high school, I spent a summer in your marketing division."

Accompanied by his wife and one of his sons, Romney examined a biodiesel Chrysler Aspen, a Ford Explorer and a Chevrolet Malibu. "What are you forecasting in terms of miles per gallon?" he asked. "I don't suppose you've put a price tag on it yet?"

His keenest rival John McCain, already in the doghouse with some auto workers for suggesting that job cuts are not reversible, was unable to claim much immediate automotive affinity.

Greeted by a clutch of senior executives, McCain was invited to see a new hybrid car. "Yes ... er ... can you just give me a little briefing first," he replied. "About two minutes?"

Having had the basics of gas-electric hybrid technology explained to him, McCain fiddled nervously with the plug for a plug-in vehicle, his brow furrowed as he pushed it gingerly into a car. "It's a very impressive show," he repeated when asked about his views.

The candidates' tour was arranged at the last minute and, according to the Detroit News, was opposed by local car dealers who were unhappy at any diversion of attention away from newly-minted vehicles.

An unscheduled meeting was briefly a threat as Romney and Mike Huckabee wandered around the display floor at the same time - for a moment, just 20 yards apart, separated only by a Chevrolet Tahoe and by two separate camera crews.

In the tightly-fought vote on Tuesday, the motoring vote will be vital. At 14%, Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in America and 400,000 jobs have disappeared since 2000.

Romney has called for the US government to raise its support for research and development in the energy and automotive industry from $4bn to $20bn.

"I do not believe the transportation sector of our economy has to be ceded to other nations," he said at the show. "I want to see the federal government act as a partner to the industry - not as someone writing a check for a bail-out."

McCain, meanwhile, has been attacked over his support for tougher environmental emissions standards which, according to the motor industry, will cost even more jobs.

The independent senator Joe Lieberman, who accompanied McCain to the motor show, insisted that raising the bar for environmental technology would create more, rather than fewer, jobs.

"We will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs - including many here in Michigan," said Lieberman. "Between now and 2030, our plan puts $66bn into the auto industry to retool it so it can dominate the global economy."

In spite of all the environmental concern surrounding the industry, Huckabee seemed most interested in a display of pickup trucks.

The former Arkansas governor owns a 1995 Chevrolet truck with more than 200,000 miles on the clock.

"Maybe it's time to get a new truck," he said, eyeing up a hybrid Tahoe enviously.