Another public figure who has been mentioned as a potential 2016 U.S. Presidential candidate will speak at a National Automobile Dealers Assn. convention.
Hillary Clinton addressed the assemblage in New Orleans last January.
Scheduled up next year is Jeb Bush. The former Florida governor, son of a former president and brother of another, will speak Jan. 23 at the convention in San Francisco, NADA announces today.
Neither Democrat Hillary Clinton nor Republican Jeb Bush is a declared candidate, but each has been the subject of speculation.
Polling indicates Clinton is the overwhelming favorite of her party. In May, Bush and Rand Paul, each with 13%, tied for first in a CNN poll that asked Republicans about their preferred potential presidential candidate for the next race.
Hillary Clinton’s choice as NADA keynote speaker had drawn criticism from some circles. Detractors predicted she would receive a cool reception from dealers who skew Republican. Instead, the convention audience gave her a standing ovation.
NADA says it isn’t playing politics either way in its speaker-selection process, just picking keynoters who are well known and of public interest.
“NADA has a long history of inviting high-profile speakers from across the political spectrum,” says spokesman Charles Cyrill. “It’s important to note that NADA is a non-profit, non-partisan, business trade association. NADA’s role is to provide its member dealers with exposure to all aspects of business and government that can affect their dealerships and the industry.”
He points out convention speakers have included three former presidents: George W. Bush in 2012 as well as George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton who shared the stage in 2009.
The speaker schedule in San Francisco gets less serious after Jeb Bush. Comedian Jay Leno is slated to addresses the crowd on Jan. 24. NADA notes he’s also an avid car collector.
