Posted on 08/20/2006 2:31:05 PM PDT by neverdem
INDIANAPOLIS -- Travis Johnson is just the type of voter the Democratic Party hopes to win back in its effort to regain control of Congress in the November elections.
Baking in the sun at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 23-year-old Danville, Ill., resident wears a black T-shirt sporting NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson's face. He looks like the epitome of the young, white, socially conservative, working-class voters who have been key backers of Republicans in the past decade.
But with U.S. troops dying in Iraq, unrest in the Middle East and gasoline prices soaring, he is not sure how he will vote.
"For the most part, I'm a tossup. I'm not dedicated to either party," Mr. Johnson said earlier this month as he and 270,000 other fans waited for the start of the Allstate 400 race.
While such indecision presents an opening for Democrats, Republicans remain the party of choice among the fans who have made NASCAR one of America's most popular sports.
"I would dearly love for the Democrats to spend millions of dollars trying to persuade NASCAR fans to vote for the Democrats," Republican pollster Whit Ayres said. "They tend to be disproportionately Southern, disproportionately white and disproportionately male, which pretty well defines the core of the Republican Party."
NASCAR fans, or more specifically "NASCAR dads," were highly courted voters in 2004. The term "NASCAR dads" is shorthand for blue-collar, mostly white, Southern men who support the U.S. military, like to hunt and enjoy watching cars race around asphalt tracks at speeds of up to 200 mph.
--snip--
Polling this month by Zogby International found that while more than half of NASCAR fans voted for President Bush in 2004, 56 percent now say the country is on the wrong track.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
"If someone tells me that trailer-parks are also a Republican bastion I'll have to rethink everything."
If you think NASCAR fans are largely trailer park denziens, then you'd best get started. If you think there are no Republicans of modest means, who live in trailers, you'd best get started, too.
Democrats should concentrate on potential voters that feel sorry for themselves.
You just got black flagged, pal. Take it to the garage, now.
No, I am not dumb. Nor are the other fans I know.
Politically uninformed? Right.
What, you think we don't vote? Or vote intelligently?
The Nascar fan is a topic of interest to the Dem's why?
I'm thinking you need to find another topic for your...ummm....opinions.
This one just ran out of gas.
All the Dems have to do is say they hate Jeff Gordon and love Dale Jr. Instant votes.
I suspect they'd instinctively spring for the Jeff Gordon demographic though, lol.
That's because the "them" that does the asking can't possibly conceive of any paradigm other than their own. If a person says the country is on the wrong track, they immediately think that person agrees with them.
In case anyone has never seen the demographics of NASCAR fans, they will be shocked to learn that they are white professional males who earn in excess of $90,000 annually. Serious.
Thats why Bon Jovi is getting involved with the Nascar scene.
LOL!
OK, I don't know if you were just being smart with me, or what.
Re-read what I posted. I said essentially this: "NASCAR fans may be politically uninformed but they're not stupid."
However, it has no punch written that way, so I said it the old fashioned way.
AND, if you took it the way I meant it, well, I'm the one who looks dumb now.
Oh, and the part about not voting intellgently, that may be up to debate, but I will say this: I believe NASCAR voters have a whole lot more common sense than the average voter when it comes to choosing elected officials. Which is why the Dems are throwing money away.
NASCAR fans may have once voted for democrats, but those days are long gone. I cannot imagine any NASCAR fan voting for this band of flaming fruitcakes.
" ....and disproportionately male, which pretty well defines the core of the Republican Party."
Real men are Republicans and girly men are Democrats.
I can't think of one Democrat male who looks tougher and stronger than most of their females.
yeah...I can't remember which race it was but he played before the race. And as everyone knows he's a huge tool of the democratic party. He's trying to make some inroads into the country music scene also.
Not even close.
NASCAR FANS
Gender distribution
Male 60%
Female 40%
Age distribution
U.S. pop. NASCAR fans
18-34 32% 32%
35-44 21% 26%
45+ 47% 43%
Income distribution
U.S. pop. NASCAR fans
$30-50,000 22% 29%
$50-75,000 18% 22%
$75-100,000 12% 12%
$100,000+ 9% 8%
Regional distribution
U.S. pop. NASCAR fans
Northeast 20% 20%
Midwest 23% 24%
South 35% 38%
West 21% 19%
Ethnic diversity
% of NASCAR fan base (18+):
1999 2002 Trend
Hispanic 3.6% 8.6% +139%
African-American 4.9% 9.1% +86%
Source: NASCAR
This is the much vaunted nascar stategy.
This right track wrong track is like asking "are you satisfied with the glass half full when you believe it could be full?"
(see also "how often do you beat your wife?")
How about a better question: "Do you think the National Democrat Party is a lost cause?"
Re-read what I posted. I said essentially this: "NASCAR fans may be politically uninformed but they're not stupid."
However, it has no punch written that way, so I said it the old fashioned way.
AND, if you took it the way I meant it, well, I'm the one who looks dumb now.
Oh, and the part about not voting intellgently, that may be up to debate, but I will say this: I believe NASCAR voters have a whole lot more common sense than the average voter when it comes to choosing elected officials. Which is why the Dems are throwing money away.
I did re-read and I have a problem with that statement.
Are you picking on the Nascar nation down south, perhaps?
I'm thinking that there is a bit of stereotype in your statement.
20 years ago, you would have been right. Not today. By any means.
Well, except when they race in California....we are working on that.
You are correct about the common sense issue. You are also correct about the Dem's throwing money away. They would like to think they can connect. Ummm.....not gonna happen.
An earlier poster stated, "You will know when the Dems get into Nascar - all 43 cars will tie for First Place."
No harm...just suspicious about your wording.
You can come back out on the track now.
But your still one lap down.
:-)
(sarcasm on)
How to make the NASCAR Democrat Party Friendly:
1. No more USA Fighter Jet fly overs.
2. No more national anthem. (you can sing the UN, French, or USSR but not the USA)
3. Homosexuals sensitivity day
4. Vegitarian only concessions.
5. Pledge of Alegance replace with KOMBAYAH sing along.
6. Leonardo De Caprio as the opening starter, his speech will urge using compact floresent lights.
7. Michael Moore as the play by play announcer
8. Introduce Kyoto Protocol restrictions on racing teams. Teams will be allowed to trade carbon emission credits with third world nations...
(/s)
The last Gov. of VA, Warner is said to have made inroads with NASCAR guys. He posed as a moderate of course but other Dems can learn the same trick. Like slick Willy.
You've misread me. No harm was meant, much the opposite. I was sincere when I talked about the common sense voting.
Under the column of ' some of my best friends are NASCAR fans' , I have a nephew trying hard to be a driver.
Thanks for letting me back on the track! Grin!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.