Cars: The Political Divide?

With America abuzz over the historic 2008 election, it seems no issue, however small, can elude the grasp of politics. Political bumper stickers are becoming omnipresent, making it increasingly easy to judge the proclivities of the driver. Of course, if those political leanings don’t coincide with yours, it also gives you carte blanche to tailgate and honk without provocation. But vehicular politics are no longer solely confined to the realm of bumpers emblazoned with “Obama ‘08″ or “McCain/Palin” stickers. New studies reveal that you can deduce any given driver’s politics fairly accurately just by sizing up the car he or she drives.

Who Studies This Stuff?

Is there a science behind divining the politics of drivers from their vehicles? Absolutely. In fact, Scarborough Research, a New York market research firm, has carved itself a niche doing so. Last year, the Republican National Committee called on Scarborough to identify consumer and leisure activities it could target in order to reach potential voters. One of the research firm’s tasks was to survey 200,000 car owners about their political affiliations. They also analyzed new-car sales and kept track of political bumper stickers, all with the purpose of politically pigeonholing drivers.

Republican Rides

You hear Republican, and you might think Ford pick-up trucks, gun racks, and Confederate flags, right? Well, sort of. The survey found that the overwhelming majority of American-made cars tend to be bought by Republicans, with the lone exception of Pontiacs, which, for some reason, tend to be a favorite of our friends on the left. So what particular models do GOP drivers favor? The research firm came up with a list, and the results may surprise you. Here are the most Republican vehicles in America:

1. Porsche. Porsche owners identified as Republican more than the owners of any other vehicle, with 59% of owners calling themselves Republicans. Only 27% of Porsche drivers identified as Democratic, and the rest called themselves independent or refused to answer.
2. Jaguar. Scarborough found that Republican drivers tend to be more affluent, and thus favor more luxurious vehicles.
3. Land Rovers. An undeniable truth emerged from the studies of the market research firm: Democrats buy cars, and Republicans buy trucks. Land Rovers are the best of both worlds for Republicans: prestige and girth all in one. Maybe the term “Range-Rover Republican” is not entirely unfounded.

Democratic Drivers

So you’re behind a Toyota Prius with an “I Heart My Co-Op” and a “Bill Lied, Monica Cried. Bush Lied, People Died.” bumper sticker, and you have a sneaking suspicion the driver is a Democrat. In this case, your instincts are probably correct, but the Prius does not skew as blue as you would think—35% of Prius owners identify as Democratic, and 22% identify as Republican. Perhaps the primal urge to save on gas transcends partisan politics. So what are the most Democratic vehicles on the road? Here’s what the survey said:

1. Volvo. Volvos are Democratic cars by a ratio of 44% to 32%. The researchers attribute this disparity to the fact that Volvos are unpretentious, safe, relatively inexpensive, and advertise “college-professor” values.
2. Subaru. As Volvos become more luxurious and bourgeois, which are apparently Republican things to be, left-leaning motorists have flocked to Subaru. One researcher said that Democrats like Subarus because they are trusty, rugged, and devoid of all pretense. Perhaps that particular researcher has never heard of the uber-ostentatious liberal enclave known as Hollywood, or the term “Limousine Liberal.”
3. Hyundai. Democrats tend to have fewer children and lower incomes than Republicans, and they tend to favor economy cars more heavily than right-wingers. So, it’s not a surprise that Hyundai, a notoriously compact and economical vehicle, skews left.

What Politicians Drive

Now that you’re armed with the uncanny power of divining political affiliation from vehicular preferences, aren’t you just dying to know what the political celebrities du jour are driving? To satiate your curiosity, we’ve compiled a list to answer that very question:

• Barack Obama: a Toyota Prius, co-piloted by Oprah, that runs on hope and whose GPS system has only one destination: change, right? Not exactly. Before Obama became a mega-celebrity after his 2004 convention speech, he drove a black Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV with black leather. The former Obamamobile was sold to a woman in Naperville, IL shortly after Obama entered the national spotlight. Obama declined the woman’s repeated requests that he sign the dashboard of the vehicle (really).
• Al Gore: a Honda Insight hybrid that leaves invisible carbon footprints or, going even greener, maybe a moped or organic roller skates? Actually, as of 2007, the self-proclaimed inventor of the Internet drove a rather eco-unfriendly Lexus. Perhaps realizing the hypocrisy of his ways, he soon traded in the Lex for a Mercury Mariner hybrid SUV.
• Dubya: when he’s not ensconced in black armored SUV/tanks that could withstand nuclear holocaust, he drives a Ford pick-up truck on his ranch in Crawford, Texas—a little too predictable to warrant comment.
• John McCain: a motorized mobility scooter—the new Straight Talk Almost-Express, perfect for geriatric riders. It can reach breakneck speeds of up to 4.25 mph. Cindy rides in the basket up front.
• Sarah Palin: Sarah actually drives a moose to save on gas. On a special episode of “Pimp My Moose,” long-time Palin family friend and distant cousin Xzibit surprised the hockey mom with a customized rifle rack and a sled side car for her five children and husband/”First Dude,” Todd.

Additional Resource:

• Obama’s Former SUV