The Politics of Cars
One of the hottest presidential campaigns in recent memory has had a mess of issues up for debate: Health care, housing, gas prices, Iraq.
Forget all that — if the election were decided based on what voters drive, John McCain could start working on his acceptance speech now.
A survey of 82,000 voters, based on political party as well as the type of vehicle they own, found McCain to be the favorite among those who drive luxury cars, full-size SUVs, full-size pickups, minivans and full-size vans.
The exception was hybrids. Barack Obama was the clear leader there, with 37.9% of all Democrats who own hybrids in his corner. Only 13.8% of Republicans who own hybrids favored McCain. Hillary Clinton was the choice among 17.9% of Democrats who own hybrids.
"Drivers of hybrid vehicles favor Obama over Clinton by a two-to-one margin, and either Democrat over McCain by four-to-one," said Art Spinella, general manager of CNW Marketing Research, which conducted the just-for-fun survey.
Democrats who own premium luxury cars overwhelmingly favored Clinton over Obama (16.9% Clinton to 6.7% Obama), but McCain still beat both with 17% of the Republican premium-luxury-owners vote.
McCain was especially strong among Republican owners of full-size pickups (48.6% of Republicans full-size truck owners were on his side, versus only 6.9% of Democrats for Obama and 6.6% of Democrats for Clinton).
Of course, the results don't mean anything until a single Democrat is chosen to run against McCain. Obama and Clinton now split the Democratic vote against him.
Of all new-car drivers, 25.9% favor a Democratic candidate, 25.1% a Republican and 49% are still undecided.
In other words, the election is too close to call.
"Closer than the body panel tolerances on a Cadillac," Spinella said.
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Not that CNW Marketing Research has much credibility left, but this would be consistent with the findings that Obama attracts smarter, richer, more educated workers than Hillary.
Where are the convertable and sports car owners?
I don't think McCain can be president.
Just look at the 25th Amendment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25th_amendment
See section IV
It is possible, however, for such a declaration to be made even if the President is fully able and conscious, should the majority of his officers find grounds other than medical disability, such as insanity or an emotional instability that threatens national security.
I'd say that applies to Mr. McCain. [and to Bush also]
I'm surprise that "Cars.com" has not started a Blog thread about the "CNW Marketing" answers to the Slate criticism of "Dust-to-dust." "CNW Marketing" has posted two answers to the Slate article.
This is an opportunity to "bash hybrid" owners and "Cars.com" doesn't have to make anything up, just call attention to the claims of "CNW Marketing." After all, us hybrid owners who have "circled the wagons" around our Prius, look forward to such postings even if it resembles the famous firecracker fight. CNW Marketing supporters keep throwing firecrackers at the hybrid fans who pick them up, light the fuses, and toss them back.
Bob Wilson