But Richard Petty will always be THE KING!
Posted on 10/12/2008 12:58:49 PM PDT by Maelstorm
On Saturday, as more than 100,000 NASCAR fans gathered at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 500, legendary racer Richard Petty announced his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.
"What we need right now in these uncertain times is a steady hand on the wheel, a leader we can trust to put country first, ahead of politics," Petty said in a prepared statement.
The endorsement was not surprising. It came from a longtime party stalwart and onetime Republican candidate for secretary of state.
But it did mark a busy day for the GOP. Faced with what polls show is an uphill battle for the White House, party officials took advantage of the festivities surrounding Saturday's race to shore up support for the party.
By the time the engines roared to life inside the speedway, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, country music star Cowboy Troy and Cindy McCain had all made appearances supporting the Republican nominee.
Many race fans shared similar political views.
"NASCAR fans represent the best of America," said Chris McClure, executive director of the N.C. Republican Party. "They know what a dollar means and who has their best interest at heart."
McClure and crew operated out of a Victory 2008 bus, one of eight Straight Talk Expresses rolling around the country. This one had been in Virginia the day before.
It was brought down for the race and wedged into a space near a NASCAR racecar simulator and the Old Spice karaoke stand.
Volunteers handed out stickers and pamphlets and talked about McCain. Terry Harrell, a salesman from Greensboro, picked up a sticker Saturday.
He proudly placed it beside an "88" sticker for Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a cooler he was pulling behind him in a wagon.
"I just like him," Harrell said, of McCain. "I believe him. I'm not sure I believe Obama."
Not everyone at the race was a McCain supporter. A few hundred yards from the GOP bus was a stand for "Race for Change," an issues-based organization that doesn't officially support Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, though it pretty much supports everything Obama supports.
Volunteers for the organization also handed out material. And by and large, they received a warm reception.
Dena Parton of Morganton was at the race with her fiance Joey Laney. She stopped by Race for Change and picked up some information.
"I'm for Obama," she said. "I think this idea that NASCAR is Republican is just a stereotype. That might be the way it used to be, but times change."
When asked if he thought the crowd was a Republican crowd, Race for Change volunteer Jeff Jacobs said no.
"Why would Cindy McCain be here, if the Republicans thought they had these votes sewn up?" he said.
Cindy McCain was the honorary race director Saturday. Dressed in jeans and a black shirt, she gave interviews, shook hands and talked racing.
Mostly though, she stumped for her husband. And on Saturday, her tone was less critical of Obama than it was earlier in the week.
"North Carolina is extremely important in this race," she said. "I want to make sure people know there is a clear difference between the candidates."
Cindy McCain had called Obama's campaign "the dirtiest campaign in American history."
I certainly do believe Obama and that is what scares me.
The King endorses the next President.
“Cindy McCain had called Obama’s campaign “the dirtiest campaign in American history.”
This is so true. She is a brave woman.
But Richard Petty will always be THE KING!
She also said he is a “nice man”. Why does the GOP always have to make clear the obvious. It is Obama’s policies and ideas that are scary and dangerous for America. No one believes otherwise. McCain should tell the media to grow the fk up!
The King is great!
Lead foot McCain
She really is a beautiful woman. Ethereal.
Idiot Liberals mixing the point again.
“Why would Cindy McCain be here, if the Republicans thought they had these votes sewn up?” he said.
Well the same can be asked why is Obama spending like 3 days in PA and especially in Philly?
Not to mention she owns a racing team of her own...not Nascar but still she is very much into racing.
Idiot needs to shut his hole.
I had to search and search for this picture. If this had been Michelle and or Barack Obama in this event there would have been hundreds of photos to choose from.
Cindy McCain driving on track has seen triple digits on the speed-o- meter. I'll add gutsy to brave and tough.
I force myself not to hate the liberals.
Richard Petty is the only Republican nominee for a North Carolina Council of State position I have ever voted against. He was utterly unqualified for the position; he refused to campaign with the rest of the GOP ticket other than the Governor candidate, Jim Gardner; and he has a room-temperature IQ.
I'll vote for John McCain, but in spite of, not because of, Richard Petty's endorsement.
ANd then there is Biden and all three of the CLinton’s in Scranton PA.....Biden’s home town
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I approve this message
Someone should also post his car from the movie “Cars” ;)!
I wuz wonderin’ if anybody was gonna comment on my tagline. ;-)
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