John McCain once owned a 'Vette; Barack Obama was a Chrysler guy

Now that we know all of the major political players in this year's presidential election, let's get down to the important stuff.

What do they drive? And, given that high gas prices are on the minds of voters, what kind of mileage are they getting?

Both John McCain and Barack Obama have promised to fix the country's energy crisis, but what they have parked in the garage may be more revealing than political rhetoric.

Ken Bensinger, over at the LATimes.com car blog Up to Speed, did some digging today and has this to report:

McCain: Cadillac CTS sedan (19 mpg). His first car was reportedly a 1958 Corvette.

Obama: Drove a Chrysler 300 with a V-8 engine (18 mpg) until last summer, when he switched to a Ford Escape hybrid (30 mpg) after getting bad press about driving a gas guzzler.

Joe Biden: He sometimes drives a 1967 Corvette (no mpg rating).

Sarah Palin: As Alaska's governor, she drives a state-owned Chevy Suburban SUV (16 mpg). In July, it sustained several thousand dollars in damage when she was involved in a multi-vehicle accident while going to work. She also has been known to drive her husband's snowmobiles.

-- Kate Linthicum

Comments

[David Molinero]

I saw the Re-Broadcast of Glenn Beck's interview with Sarah Palin Friday, and she seems to have an I.Q. on what the American People wants, unlike most of the Politicos in Washington.

Most of the people I meet and talk politics with, have an unease about the election this November, many talking about voting for the one they believe would do the lest harm, not for someone they can believe in.

I haven't met many who believe in either McCain, nor Obama, and that bodes poorly for either one who gets elected

The mood back when I first voted for President, (1984) was very different then today, as both sides were largely voting for someone they did believe in, and it had largely been that way till 96 when the Reps found out that "Anybody but Clinton" just wasn't good enough, just as the "Anybody but Bush" also failed.

Now I see it as largely for "The guy I think will do the lest harm", and that scares me.

This country is coming up on hard times, a lot sooner then the Reps and Dems are willing to admit, and as far as I can see, the Politicos have their heads in the sand.

[plankbob]

What a person drives can be indicative of who they are, certainly. As is their reaction to the B word:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/30/81444/5625/741/579968

Also, I am starting to read more things that say Gov. Palin is quite the infighter and not just the reforming hockey mom she's being made out to be:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/30/81444/5625/741/579968

[Chris]

Good point about the automobiles. Has anyone asked McCain's staff how many cars he owns?

[Mitchell in NY]

Wail till people find out more about Palin. It seems that McCain may not understand what it means to actually vet a candidate. He may have really jumped the shark on this one. (And the problems go deeper than her inexperience or even what she drives.)

"McCain Just Lost the Election with a Hail Mary (or Political Ambition 21, Country 0)"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/