Enlarge By Marc Serota, Getty Images Republican presidential candidate John McCain speaks in January in Miami with his wife Cindy, center, and daughter Megan, right. The United Auto Workers union disapproves of John McCain's unclear message about whether he bought his daughter a hybrid car or if she bought it herself. LANSING, Mich. (AP)  The head of the United Auto Workers union said Wednesday that Republican presidential nominee John McCain lost credibility by first saying he bought his daughter a Toyota Prius, then saying she purchased it. Ron Gettelfinger told reporters in a conference call that motorists have a right to choose any car they want. "But we think that a person who has declared himself ... the nominee of the Republican Party should be straight with the American people," he said. "It's very insulting to try to skirt something as simple as whether or not you bought a particular vehicle." Added Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112 in Youngstown, Ohio: "If he is going to lie about an issue as small as a Prius, what's he going to do on the big issues?" The UAW has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. In response, the McCain campaign said the Arizona senator is an advocate of alternative-fueled vehicles and has proposed a $300 million prize for whoever can develop a better automobile battery, along with $5,000 tax credits for consumers who buy new zero-emission vehicles. Regional spokeswoman Sarah Lenti said in a statement that McCain wants America to "take the lead in the way we power transportation," saving U.S. jobs. "He is trying to promote change and to do this by pushing American companies to develop an affordable battery operated car," she said. Lenti didn't say whether McCain or his daughter had purchased the Prius, but noted: "The UAW should lay off Megan McCain." The accusation of a McCain flip-flop surfaced Wednesday in a presidential campaign that has grown increasingly acrimonious. According to an October 2007 New York Times article, McCain told a student last fall in South Carolina who asked what the candidate was personally doing to reduce greenhouse gases that he had bought the hybrid Prius for his daughter, Meghan. But when questioned Sunday by a reporter at TV station WXYZ in Southfield, Mich., McCain said, "She bought it, I believe, herself." During the conference call, Gettelfinger pointed out that there are a number of hybrid vehicles made by domestic automakers. He praised Obama for backing the domestic automakers' request that the federal government back $50 million in loan guarantees the auto industry wants so it can retool its factories to make more fuel-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles. "With McCain, finally he came on board with the $25 billion support," Gettelfinger said, referring to automakers' earlier and lower loan guarantee request. "Barack Obama came on board very early on for $50 billion." The Obama campaign has been pushing the economic message hard in Michigan, a critical Midwestern battleground state Obama almost has to win if he wants to gain the White House. Tuesday evening, Michigan Lt. Gov. John Cherry held an economic roundtable meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich., to discuss what it says are the ways "the Michigan's economy has suffered under the failed Bush-McCain economic policies." Obama's Michigan policy director, Jenna Pilat, was to hold a similar roundtable discussion Wednesday night in Traverse City, Mich. The Obama campaign was also sending actor Kal Penn and actress Jurnee Smollett to six university campuses on Wednesday to register student voters. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more