By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-931855.mp3
LANSING, MI –
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General Motors announced Thursday that its factory in Lansing will build a new luxury compact car to compete with Mercedes and BMW. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, there were moments when the announcement ceremony turned into a campaign rally for Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, the Democratic candidate for governor.
AUDIO:
Democratic politicians and union leaders took their turns at the microphone to praise the Lansing mayor and predict success for him in Tuesday's election. That's despite every indication that he still trails his Republican opponent, Rick Snyder.
Bernero took the stage to the cheers of United Auto Workers who were on hand and said he was proud of his efforts to defend manufacturing and to bring the Cadillac project and new jobs to his city.
"Officially, we're going to turn the page from the angriest mayor' to the proudest mayor in America," he said to applause.
Bernero says Snyder is opposed to the types of incentives that helped Lansing land the project. Snyder is not opposed to all incentives that target a specific company or industry, but says the state relies too much on them, and he prefers across-the-board taxcuts to create jobs.
Election 2010 - WKAR
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