Presidential Drive-By.(Column)(Column)

Byline: Rich Ceppos

As a member in good standing of a special interest group, I want you to know how the upcoming election will affect what you hold dear. The subject is cars. And you're in good standing by association: You're reading this magazine.

I have no desire to make light of the many important issues facing our nation. But let's not forget that the automotive industry is one of America's most powerful economic engines. And the products carmakers build and sell have a significant impact on domestic and foreign policy. They support hundreds of thousands of jobs and use lots of crude.

So Sen. Kerry, Mr. President: If elected, what do you plan to do about, or to, the automobile?

Easier asked than answered, because neither the president nor the man who would be has said much about the automobile during his hectic campaign. It's not on their websites either-surprising, because everything else is but the menu at McDonald's.

So we'll have to turn to the outside experts who have jumped into this automotive information vacuum and formulated some surprising answers and opinions. You may or may not make your voting decision based on what each candidate or his party has in store for the automobile, but information is like horsepower. Can't have too much, eh?

For instance, which party is "better'' for the automobile industry? A recent story in the Detroit Free Press by Jamie Butters explored how carmakers have fared historically under Republican and Democratic administrations. The answer: Not how you'd expect.