National Journalists cover the election from Toledo - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

An update to a story 13abc was first to tell you about last week. A Mitt Romney campaign ad about Jeep continues gaining national attention. In that ad, Romney says Jeeps will be built in China. But as we've reported, Chrysler says building Jeeps in China is nothing new and an expansion of production there will not impact American operations.

The Romney campaign ad says in part, "Obama took GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy and sold Chrysler to the Italians who are going to build Jeeps in China."

A reporter from California is here covering the story now. He's talked with union leaders and toured part of the Jeep Wrangler plant. He'll be here in Ohio through the election and he says that Romney ad will be a big part of his story.

Michael Finnegan is a political reporter for the Los Angeles Times. The story he's working on here in Toledo will include the campaign ad that's been called everything from misleading to an outright lie,"The auto industry is obviously very important in this region made it the central focus of his advertising at the end of the campaign and I want to find out why. President Obama has had the edge in Ohio for many months, it is a tiny edge and it would not take much to overcome it, but it will take something, and the Romney campaign may be calculating this is what it will be."

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne sent a letter to all employees this week saying in part "Jeep assembly lines will remain in operation in the United States. It is inaccurate to suggest anything different."

Finnegan spent time today at Mobis North America, where they build chassis as well as wheel and tire modules for the Wrangler, "Where we are standing now is a 25 ,000 square foot expansion of the facility. They are not going to China, they are growing here in Toledo. There's a clash between what Romney is saying and what's actually happening here and that's what interests me."

Several other journalists from as far away as  have toured the plant in recent days. Tyson Stoll is the plant manager, "I am very proud of everyone's effort to build the top quality product we make here in Toledo and to have the media come in so we can show that off a bit, I am willing to do that."

Finnegan's story goes to print in the next few days. The Romney campaign is not backing down from the ad. A statement from V-P candidate Paul Ryan today says quote "GM and Chrysler are expanding their production overseas. These are facts that voters deserve to know as they listen to the claims President Obama and his campaign are making."

Once again, Chrysler says any overseas expansion will not affect American operations.

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