ROSELAND, N.J. (Oct. 10, 2008) — The tire industry was represented at the Oct. 7 presidential debate with Alliance Tire Co. USA Ltd. President Manny Cicero participating in the town hall event.
Cicero was one of 80 uncommitted voters who were invited to be part of the live audience in Nashville, Tenn., and provide questions for Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) and Republican candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
“It was like winning a great seat to the Super Bowl,” he said of the experience.
Cicero did not get to ask his question, but he said he would have wanted to know what each candidate's first action item would be to restore confidence in the economy.
“Certainly the theme that started and dominated the thing was the economy,” he said. “Everyone in that room more or less had an economy question and then a back up question.”
Cicero said after the debate, McCain left in a hurry and “almost looked angry” while Obama and his wife stayed for about 45 minutes to shake hands and sign autographs. He declined to comment on his personal political views but said he thinks it's more likely that Obama will win in November.