Political debate highlights presidential candidate pros, cons for aftermarket

LAS VEGAS — Election predictions change with the day, but in trying to secure aftermarket support, the battleground mentality has come to Las Vegas.

Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe faced off at the 15^th annual AAIA Town Hall breakfast at AAPEX Wednesday, both touting the benefits and realities for the aftermarket if faced with another four years with President Barack Obama or a new turn with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

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McAuliffe highlighted the challenges Obama faced from day one as president — mainly the damage George Bush did to the progress made by Bill Clinton. What started as a strong economy with a surplus in the beginning of Bush’s term ended with a deficit and economy in disarray following two wars, a prescription drug plan and tax credits, among other policies, he says.

“I think Obama is going to keep the economy in the right direction,” he says.

But whether or not he will have the chance changes daily, Barbour says. But new weather developments have worked in Obama’s favor. “[Hurricane Sandy] is a godsend for Obama. Every day we are not talking about jobs and the economy, deficit and debt, Obama’s record or Obamacare, is a great day for Obama. For four days there has been a literal blackout and that is a blessing for Obama,” he says.

The men discussed their thoughts on each candidate’s strengths for some key issues that will impact the automotive aftermarket.

Small business policies
“We are at an impasse in this country. I’m in the auto business. It’s not easy starting a car company. But I’m sick of jobs going from America over to China. We need to bring jobs back here. We’ve got to get America back in the game,” McAuliffe says.

Barbour argued that “the government can’t spend itself rich. We have the biggest disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street. The policy of this government has been to work to bring down interest rates so they could continue to borrow. How can that be in the best interest of your customers? How can more government control of the business community and of the way we do business in America be in the best interest of your business and your customers? As Romney says, let small business run itself and let them, not government, decide who the winners and losers are.”

Campaign spending policies
 “We should never lose sight of how much [is spent on campaigns] compared to our total economy. In comparison, it is not a lot of money. But we would be better off if more people gave money,” Barbour says. “We shouldn’t let the news media to set the par. They would prefer there be no spending, and then the news media could tell you what to think. We have a great system in our country where advocates get to tell their story. As long as it is paid for openly, I think there should be no limits.”

McAuliffe agreed, but said not to expect many changes in the system if Obama is elected for another term. But he did argue that campaign efforts, especially in battleground states, can lose their impact because of frequency. “I think it is oversaturation,” leading voters to tune out the messages, he says.

Stimulus spending
“Anyone interested in growing the economy knows that logistics are a huge part. How do we have an $800 billion-plus stimulus package and so little of it went to infrastructure?” Barbour says. “Obama is going to make debt a priority in the next four years. He should have made it a priority four years ago, but when he is spending, so little of it is going to infrastructure.”

McAuliffe agreed more money should have gone to stimulating economic growth, but handling major shortfalls in the state budgets had to be prioritized in order to preserve jobs. “A lot of the stimulus money went in to help balance state budgets and was used immediately,” he says. “We would have had to fire 15 percent of our teachers and fire fighters. But should more have gone to stimulus, yes. We have to build more infrastructure in this country but have to do it in a bi-partisan way.”