Rick Snyder and Mitt Romney may have similar backgrounds – both born and raised in Michigan, both cultivated moderate conservative reputations en route to winning governorships in traditional blue states.

But when it comes to the federal bailout of the auto industry in 2009, the two politicians have starkly different positions.

Romney, as a Democratic political ad reminded viewers this week, would have let Chrysler and General Motors go bankrupt. He elaborated on that position in this week’s Republican candidate debate held in suburban Detroit. “They should have gone through a managed bankruptcy process,” utilizing a private-sector bailout that provided funds and time for restructuring, he said.

Snyder disagrees.

“This was about more than these two companies,” he said. Bankruptcies would have had far-reaching consequences. “It would have brought down the whole supply chain and Ford,” Snyder said.

NPR’s Don Gonyea reviewed Romney’s position on the federal auto bailout this morning, and how it went over in Michigan.