NOVI – It is a bad idea for Republican presidential candidates to talk about the controversial auto industry bailout, Governor Rick Snyder told reporters here Thursday night, saying they instead should focus on what they can do to improve the national jobs picture.

The question of the auto bailout has come up frequently in just the last several days, with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney charging that the bailout completed by President Barack Obama was an example of “crony capitalism,” while former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum blasted Romney for supporting the bailout of financial companies but not for the auto industry.

Speaking to reporters after he briefly addressed the some 1,400 attendees at the Oakland County Lincoln Day dinner, Snyder said he viewed discussing the bailout as “armchair quarterbacking” and dragging up old history.

“I don’t view it as a good discussion to have,” Snyder said. “Let’s move on.”

Instead the candidates should talk about, and the voters should pay attention to, what they would do to cut the unemployment rate in half, and cut regulations to help businesses, Snyder said.

Asked if he thought the issue would make it more difficult for the party to win in November, Snyder said he did not know since the general election was so far away.

Asked why Santorum was leading Romney in statewide polls, Snyder, fresh off endorsing Romney, said it was still early. With more than 10 days before the February 28 presidential primary it was still a “lifetime in politics” for Romney to get the momentum and win.

But when asked what he was going to do to help Romney win the state, Snyder said if there were opportunities such as the events he was at on Thursday he would do those. But his main job is being governor of Michigan.

While Snyder made a very public endorsement of Romney on Thursday, he did not mention Romney during his short remarks to the gathering. And he greeted Santorum, though he told reporters he was not able to speak with him.

Instead Snyder urged attendees at the dinner to get fired up for the election and work hard to ensure that Republicans continue to control the Michigan House and the Supreme Court.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

a>>