AP asked candidates to name their first cars. Here are their answers, and a look at some of their personal vehicles now:
DEMOCRATS:
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: A 1963 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a battery she kept in her law-school dorm on cold nights so the car would start when she needed it. (Now: A Ford hybrid, and Secret Service vehicles as former first lady)
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Plymouth Duster. (Now: Ford Escape hybrid, 2004 Chrysler Pacifica midsize SUV, 1994 GMC truck.)
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Grandfather’s Ford Granada was the first car he used extensively. (Now: Chrysler 300C, a full-size sport-luxury sedan.)
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Secondhand Ford Mustang. (Now: Official state vehicles and “Jeep Wrangler, although my security doesn’t like me to drive.”
REPUBLICANS:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: A used Dodge. (Now: “I don’t drive, I navigate.”)
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Mercury Montego. (Now: 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and 1995 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck)
Arizona Sen. John McCain: 1958 Corvette. (Now: Cadillac CTS, a midsize luxury sedan)
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: A used 1963 Rambler Classic, which he got in 1965 when he went to college. (His father, then Michigan governor, had helped develop the Rambler as American Motors chief) (Now: 2005 Ford Mustang convertible and 1962 Rambler American.)
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: Red pickup. Now: Unknown.
Romney’s Dad was CEO or American Motors at one point. Thus the Rambler - which he even makes fun of. Of course the battery in dorm comment - have you seen her college photos? 2 things - she has had work done, and when was the last time you saw a full length photo of her? Hint she has a big backyard.
By kblackav8or. January 14th, 2008 at 11:05 pmA “man’s car”? A Mustang? You mean the secretary’s car? The car that spent most of its life based on nondescript family cars like my Fairmont or the Falcon, pretending to be something more than it is? Frankly, I’d rather see Mustang owners be forced into hippie vans at gunpoint and their Mustangs crushed before their eyes, or doled out as spare parts to all the Falcons and Fox-bodies that have suffered for years as little more than “parts cars” to Mustangs and annoying Mustang owners. I’d rather urinate on a Mustang than drive one. “Man’s car”.. what a joke. More like “pretty boy’s car”. If you had said Fairlane Thunderbolt, or GT-40, or AC Cobra, I might’ve taken you a bit more seriously. But thanks for the laugh, at any rate.
You’re welcome to try and make me give up my Fairmont and Mark VII and my Ram for a hippie bus. Unlike hippies, I’m armed.. and I don’t take too kindly to people trying to make me do anything.
The image the world wants? I dare say the average American has no idea what the world wants from us. All the world wants from us is for us to keep to ourselves a bit more and stop invading everyone and acting like we own the world. We don’t, and we’re headed for a big fall with an attitude like that.. and we’ll have earned what’s coming. All these hacks listed above want more of the same. Democrap, Repugnant, there isn’t a dime of difference between the two. It would be nice to say Ron Paul would be a change, but he won’t be allowed to win. Either the people in charge will have some “crazy” put a bullet through his head, or there will just be more election fraud.
Not like it matters to most Americans these days.. politics to most here is just another sport. People only care if their team (party) wins.. no matter how far down the toilet their team is willing to flush the country to celebrate the win. Yay, some members of your team drove old Fords once, before they made all that money and had a choice.
By Ben. January 1st, 2008 at 11:00 pmOne who growls about warmongering establishment boot lickers should be driving a 60’s VW bus painted in paisley print. A man’s car like a MUSTANG should be prohibited.
By Larry. December 31st, 2007 at 5:03 pmI don’t want to fit the image that the rest of the world wants, we would all be cavemen and cavewomen in the USA.
Sorry for waxing political, there are more important things to discuss like our classic Mustangs, but sometimes you just gotta respond!
i wonder where any of them stand on our hobby/older/daily drivers crush em or epa em to death or just let them be
By zooman61. December 18th, 2007 at 7:04 pmYay, a bunch of warmongering establishment boot-lickers drove common cars once. That really makes me want to vote for them!
What next, an article on what brand of toilet paper they prefer? Because that’s so much more important than fixing the country or repairing our image in the eyes of the world.
Glad to see we have our priorities in order.
By Ben. December 12th, 2007 at 12:07 amI knew there was I reason I was honing in on Huckabee.
I betcha there wasn’t a dude on campus that would have been willing to carry that battery for Hilly. Oh yeah, she went to Wellesley.
By Clemson. December 10th, 2007 at 4:36 pm