Mitt Romney's Cadillac Gaffe Draws More Scrutiny of his Wealth

By Brett LoGiurato | February 24 2012 6:15 PM

First, Mitt Romney committed a gaffe in admitting he was not worried about the very poor. Then, he admitted he only paid about a 15 percent tax rate.

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First, Mitt Romney gaffed in admitting he was not worried about the “very poor.” Then, he admitted he only paid about a 15 percent tax rate. Now, his ad-libbing in Detroit led him to brag about his wife Ann’s Cadillacs.

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Now, his ad-libbing in Detroit led him to a flub about his wife Ann's Cadillacs.

I like the fact that most of the cars I see are Detroit-made automobiles, Romney said Friday during a campaign rally in the Motor City. I drive a Mustang and a Chevy pickup truck.

Ann drives a couple of Cadillacs, actually.

Actually. And it's already garnering some flak for the Romney campaign as another example of how the multimillionaire former Massachusetts governor is out of touch with middle-class America.

The Romney campaign later told reporters that Ann Romney drives 2007 and 2010 Cadillac SRXs, having one each in California and Massachusetts.

And I used to have a Dodge truck, Romney said. So I used to have all three covered.

All three meaning the Big Three U.S. auto makers Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC. Romney's remarks, which were not in his prepared text, came during a speech in which he discussed his plans to cut income taxes and revamp entitlement programs. He gave the speech to the Detroit Economic Club inside Ford Field, home of the NFL's Detroit Lions.

According to The Washington Post, a 2010 SRX sells between $36,000 and $50,000, and a 2007 SRX sells between $38,000 and $44,000. According to Edmunds.com, the MSRP on a 2012 Cadillac SRX is $35,485.

The Democratic Party and President Barack Obama could seize upon Romney's comments during the campaign this summer and fall as another example of his wealthy status. Obama and Romney have already traded barbs over their differing views on the auto bailouts.

A day before winning the New Hampshire primary, Romney said he liked being able to fire people who provide services to me. That didn't haunt him there, but soon after he began falling in polls and eventually lost South Carolina to Newt Gingrich.

Later, after winning the Florida primary, he said he was not concerned about the very poor during a TV spot with CNN.

With these ad-libs, Romney was evidently attempting to champion his ownership of American-made cars. But he inadvertently drew more attention to his wealth, something that has continued to haunt him throughout the campaign.