Bush Goes After 'NASCAR Dads' in Reelection Effort

Reuters ^ | 13 Feb 2004 | Randall Mikkelsen

[demlosers]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush will woo this year's political in-group, "NASCAR dads," with a visit to Florida on Sunday to attend the Daytona 500, the showcase race of the stock car circuit.

Bush, who is to participate in the race's opening ceremonies, will be seeking the attention of the estimated 75 million Americans who follow the sport.

Some political strategists view NASCAR fans as emblematic of a major bloc of swing voters in this year's presidential campaign -- culturally conservative family men whose middle class status is threatened by a shaky jobs market.

"It's a natural constituency for us," Republican strategist Charlie Black said. "The challenge is to get 'em out to vote ... you want to show up where they are as much as you can."

The Republican party has opened a voter registration booth at Daytona, hoping to snag some of the expected 400,000 to 500,000 race fans in a state expected to be one of the hardest-fought of this year's presidential election.

The White House invited defending Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip to answer questions on its Internet site on Friday. Referring to Bush's visit, he said, "The fans are going to love it. The media will love it ... trust me on this one."

Stock-car racing has roots in the rural South, where legendary moonshine runners souped up their cars to evade police and raced for sport, but it has gone big-time with major corporate sponsors, a polished image and a global audience.

Democrats see an affiliation with stock car racing as a way to recapture the loyalties of Southern whites, who have increasingly voted Republican for decades.

SPONSORED CARS

Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has sponsored a NASCAR racer as part of his Democratic presidential nomination run. Florida Sen. Bob Graham and South Carolina Sen. John Edwards have also sponsored race cars as part of presidential bids.

"NASCAR is an advertising medium and it helps you get through to the culture where people will listen to your message," said Democratic consultant David "Mudcat" Saunders

Saunders used stock car racing as part of a non-traditional appeal to rural voters that helped Virginia Democrat Mark Warner win the governorship for his party in 2001, for the first time in a generation. "If we get through the culture wall ... then we can talk about issues that mean something to people, like health care (or) the environment," he said. "Bubba (the stereotypical southern male) doesn't want his trees killed and his streams ruined any more than anybody else."

He saw Bush's Daytona 500 trip as a reaction to Democratic inroads. "He's covering his flank," Saunders said.

Earlier this week, Bush visited another symbolic shrine of Southern white males -- the flagship store of the Bass Pro Shops chain, in Springfield, Missouri. No, he wasn't fishing for votes, he said, just picking up some gear,

Republican consultant Scott Reed dismissed suggestions Bush was threatened among so-called NASCAR dads. "This isn't about shoring anything up -- this is Bush," he said.

He said Bush's campaign theme as a leader against terrorism would appeal to NASCAR fans, but acknowledged many were also probably worried about jobs.

The "NASCAR dads" may be getting the buzz, but women comprise a large share of the fan base and may be the true swing vote, Saunders said. "Forty percent of NASCAR fans are women. They become soccer moms on Monday."

[areafiftyone]

Good for him. Why not? Clinton went after the soccer moms. Jeeze Reuters makes is seem like Bush went out to NASCAR and announced "I am running re-election so everyone vote for me please pretty please!!"

[WackySam]

[South40]

It'd be my guess that most NASCAR dads are opposed to Bush's amensty for ILLEGALS scheme.

[areafiftyone]

KEWL!

[TexasCajun]

Atta Boy Dale!! You made daddy proud today!

and a lot of fans. Great Race.

[mathluv]

LOL!!!

[Drango]

Not to be out done, Kerry will be visiting a whore house to attract the votes of slut moms...

[Howie66]

Being as I am a "NASCAR Dad", I can say with pride that President bush doesn't need to "woo" me to vote for him.

All that President Bush needs to do to get my vote is to keep doing what he has been doing. Fighting the war on terrorism pretty much trumps his having to battle the obstructionist nimrods for the RAT party.

If anything, we true patriotic and honest conservatives should make every effort possible to give President Bush more like minded members in the House and the Senate so he will have an easier task of protecting our country and society.

[areafiftyone]

OUCH! You bad! ;-)

[Hon]

President Wilson Shamelessly Whores For Votes

[Mr. K]

GEEEZZZ!!! Can't he do ANYTHING without the liberal media crapping all over it?

[Alas Babylon!]

HaHaHaHa...... No.

[Old Sarge]

"It's a natural constituency for us," Republican strategist Charlie Black said. "The challenge is to get 'em out to vote ... you want to show up where they are as much as you can."

"Besides, where else are they going to go?"

[jerry639]

Love the picture.
President Bush shows up at the Daytona 500
Dale, Jr. wins the race.
Great Day to be an American Republican Redneck NASCAR Fan
It doesn't get any better than this...Well, Not until November 2nd, that is.

[jigsaw]

OTHER TOP NEWS OF THE HOUR FROM REUTERS:

    Bush Brushes His Teeth In Reelection Effort. (Reuters)

    Bush Says Good Morning To His Wife in Reelection Effort. (Reuters)

    Bush Breathes in Reelection Effort. (Reuters)

    Bush Goes AWOL in Reelection Effort. (Reuters)

Reuters, you boneheads, get a clue! Maybe President (to you) Bush wanted to see the bloom'n race!

[vetvetdoug]

Get in touch with Registered. I can see the Democrat front runners watching the TV and sucking eggs as they are watching how wonderful a reception the President received. Below captioned is
I am afraid we have awoken a sleeping giant...
It would help if Kerry et all are wearing "Rising Sun" headbands.

[longtermmemmory]

You are absolutly right. However, (as alway a however) it is not part of the thre "G"'s. Many of these NASCAR Dads have business which use illegals. FL has a heavy agribusiness.

The balance to the immigration reform is to include REAL border enforcemtn. BEEF UP THE BORDERS. This has already happened with fignerprinting and imaging of all entrants.

The beauty of NASCAR is that it is goal oriented. There may be passion in the competition but there are no points for feeelings. No bonus round for the prettyiest car. There are standards and the competitors win.

If I am not mistaken Soccer moms have some of their "competitions" without scoring, and no declaration of winner because of possible hurt feelings.

For NASCAR Dads, the debate is really about picking a candidate who will win not just the campaign race but the political races when seated in the oval office.

[Not A Snowbird]

Could be political, sure. But maybe he just likes Nascar!

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Right on, man! It doesn't get much better than this! NASCAR is the the American dream. Just think, from booze runners down south, to the dirt tracks, to the sands of Daytona, to the largest spectator sport in the USA! That is freedom and American drive, ambition and dedication, things the Democrat Party has no clue about. It was absolutely disgusting listening to both Fox News and CNN today. Neither has a clue at to what NASCAR is! Pathetic! GW Bush was one of the boys today! Can you imagine Kerry or any of the other "traitor" Democrats trying to mingle with the "folks"? Statement of fact: Gephardt, Sharpton, Braun, Kucinich, Lieberman, Edwards, Clark, Graham, etc. DEAD & forgotten! Prediction, John "American Traitor" Kerry will go down in flames! The man is not a hero, but a turncoat, who directly caused the deaths of American military personnel by his treason to the USA! He is a loser and always was! You can bank on it!