Lee Iacocca, the man credited with saving Chrysler, has thrown his support to Mitt Romney in the Republican’s effort to unseat Barack Obama and take the reins of the country after the November election.
Iacocca, a lifelong Democrat who has been a war horse for numerous Democratic candidates in the past and who once turned down an appointment to the US. Senate, announced his decision to back Romney in an Op-Ed in Friday's
Detroit News.
He praised Romney and said the country needs a president who can turnaround the economy with more than just words and promises.
“Mitt Romney has successfully led both public and private sector turnarounds,” Iacocca wrote. “He is a bright and successful man; he is a good man, a caring man, a man of integrity, family and faith. Importantly, he recognizes we are in a tough situation. With dozens of years of real world experience in the public and private sectors, he knows what he's talking about. His policies will enable a stronger America, one in which all Americans can share. He was groomed and trained for this moment.”
Iacocca is now retired and living in California but his support is expected to help Romney in two key states: Michigan, where Iacocca spent most of his career, first at Ford and later at Chrysler, and Pennsylvnia. He was born and raised in Allentown. In 1991 Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey asked Iacocca to take over the Senate seat of H. John Heinz III who had died in office. Iacocca declined the offer.
He rose to national prominence in 1979 when, after taking over the ailing Detroit car manufacturer, he received a bailout from Congress and rebuilt Chrysler. He later co-wrote a best-selling book, “Iacocca, An Autobiography”.
In 2000 he backed George W. Bush in 2000, but switched to John Kerry in 2004.
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