Green campaigning.

Campaigns save energy with hybrid cars.

"This year's presidential candidates are trying to get good mileage out of getting good mileage. The candidates, who do a lot of talking about the need for greater energy efficiency, are not just asking who walks the walk but also, who drives the hybrid?

John Edwards makes a point of telling people that after years of driving a regular sport utility vehicle, he and his wife bought a hybrid model to shuttle their kids, strollers, toys, luggage and other stuff between Washington, D.C., and North Carolina.

Edwards, happy to promote his energy-efficient Escape, also still owns a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica midsize SUV and a 1994 GMC truck, according to state vehicle registration records."

"Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record), D-Ill., says he usually drives a flex-fuel vehicle, which can run on gasoline or a cleaner-burning blend of ethanol and gasoline. But he acknowledges that sometimes it is not practical to fill up with the ethanol blend, known as E85."

"Republican Mitt Romney, the son of a former Detroit auto executive, announced his candidacy while standing in front of a hybrid Ford Escape, which averages 36 miles per gallon in the city, and an old Rambler from American Motors Corp. Romney drives a 2005 Ford Mustang and his wife a Cadillac SRX SUV. The Mustang gets 17-19 mpg in city driving; an SRX about 16."

"Republican Rudolph Giuliani gave an energy policy speech in New York last summer that included a pitch for greater use of hybrid cars. Idling outside for him was a Cadillac Escalade. He did, however, opt to walk to his next destination rather than ride in the SUV, which averages 13 mpg according to the government's fuel economy guide. His campaign refused to say what he is driving these days." (If the car was following him, in what way did his little walk save anything?)

"Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), a Republican candidate for president, drives a Cadillac CTS, which gets city mileage in the 15-17 mpg range, the guide says."

"Democratic candidate Bill Richardson, the New Mexico governor and former U.S. energy secretary, made a big show in 2005 of giving up his gas guzzling SUV Lincoln Navigator for a hybrid Escape, proclaiming, "I believe I should lead by example."

A few months later, the 6-foot-2 governor ditched the hybrid for a flex-fuel Chevy Tahoe LTZ after deciding the Escape was too small for him and his entourage, including a security detail.

"I can't fit in it," Richardson joked. "It goes about 20 mph." The Tahoe averages 11 mpg in the city when using the E85 blend, and 15 when running on gasoline."

"Hillary Rodham Clinton, as former first lady, rides in vehicles owned and operated by the
Secret Service. At the Clintons' request, the fleet includes a Ford hybrid, according to campaign spokesman Phil Singer."

 

Arnold still owns four hummers. Plus he's got a hydrogen hummer on loan from GM. The so-called "green hummer".