DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. says it's trying to stay out of the political limelight by banning President Barack Obama, Republican challenger Mitt Romney and other candidates from its plants through the November election.

GM Vice President Bob Ferguson tells the Detroit Free Press (http://on.freep.com/PedlfG ) that the automaker wants to put all its energy "behind selling ... cars and trucks."

He says "it's an understatement" to say that GM can't wait for the Nov. 6 election to be over.

GM survived bankruptcy through government loans, and the U.S. Treasury owns 26 percent of GM.

The company says it has been intentionally less visible in lobbying on some issues, taking a lower profile until the election is over.

The government gave GM $49.5 billion in 2009, and the company still owes $26.2 billion.

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Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com