NYT ed: Nascar's Swinging Voters (this year's 'soccer moms')

The New York Times ^ | 08/05/03 | editorial board

[Pokey78]

If you've got to have a gimmick in politics, Senator Bob Graham may have found the next big thing. Mr. Graham, one of a slew of Democrats running for president this year, has spent as much as $500,000 to help underwrite a souped-up Jack Roush pickup truck that has been screaming around some of Nascar's racetracks. After the Bob Graham Ford won a race in Kansas City, his campaign got thousands of dollars in free publicity as TV cameras followed the machine for a full victory lap.

Politicians nowadays are setting their sights on "Nascar dads," as opposed to the oh-so-yesterday "soccer moms." Political consultants have no end of ways to slice and dice the always desirable uncommitted voter. Last time, she was a waitress. This year, he's rooting for Jeff Gordon.

While the emergence of the "Nascar dad" might suggest that women have given up their position as queens of the gender gap, in fact the enormous Nascar audience itself has grown more female in recent years, as well as more middle class and less rural. The fans have a reputation for being fiercely independent, and there is nothing presidential candidates yearn for more fiercely than genuinely independent American voters — ready to swing one way or the other at the drop of an argument, or perhaps a well-timed political pitch. Democrats are speculating that stock car aficionados are the very people whose jobs are in jeopardy in the sluggish Bush economy and whose families have been placed at risk by the administration's military pursuits overseas.

So far, Mr. Graham has been working the Nascar crowd harder than other politicians. Right now, he's doing better at the speedway than in the polls.

[MCH]

Hmmm. Let's see.

Aren't the Democrooks and their trial lawyer shakedown buddies the ones who have attacked big tobacco and are trying to take it down?

What's the biggest prize in NASCAR? The Winston Cup. Doesn't seem to work. Let's vote for the pukes who are trying to destroy and/or impose politcal correctness on our favorite sport?

Are these DemoRats smoking something else besides highly taxed tobacco?

[JennysCool]

You so right!

This whole thing is an absolute freakin' crock:

The fans have a reputation for being fiercely independent, and there is nothing presidential candidates yearn for more fiercely than genuinely independent American voters

No, no, NYT -- That is what the Democrats fear above ALL ELSE. Whatta buncha @#$%!

[SevenofNine]

Hey Pokey that not first time I hear Demos try work NASCAR circuit Demos you still going lose

It is known fact that Kerry don't even who is Jeff Gordan or Dale Earhart Jr is

[SevenofNine]

Pokey that so true about NASCAR fans they are independant voters

They are family issue oriented so Bob Graham you still a loser

[MJY1288]

Let me tell you this, I have been around some sort of racing all my life and at least 85% of Nascar Fans are conservative and probably 80% of all other race fans are conservatives. Sure any car owner will take Bob Graham's money to put his sorry name on the side of the car, but he isn't gonna win a bunch a votes from it.

All Georrge W. Bush will have to do is show up at Daytona next February and Bob Graham will wish he never sponsored anything connected to NASCAR The place will go wild in support of him and our troops. Clinton and Janet Reno going after the Tabacco industry will never be forgiven

[razorback-bert]

I saw Bob Graham in a duck blind the other day on espn, sure is courting the redneck vote.

[KC_Conspirator]

Well I will give Graham credit for realizing that the democrat party has for all intent and purposes banned the white male from its ranks. This is just a gimmick that might get him some more votes.

[SevenofNine]

OHH how about this

Remember back in da day Reagan went to NASCAR event do little sport annoucing on Campaign trail

Hey Ronnie was former sport caster he did good job on that

Also I remember when then Prez George Bush SR arrived at NASCAR event during 1988 election

NASCAR fans went crazy

I bet Dubya get same reaction from NASCAR fans reason is

Dubya is them

Well yeah he grew up in Texas


Bob Grahman is wantbe NASCAR Fan

Dubya is real deal

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

has spent as much as $500,000

Can anyone verify this amount ( I think it's too low )? The reason I ask is because back in 1988, I worked for a candy factory. Jolly Rancher sponsored a car at the time and our company checked into trying the to do the same. Their research told them that $500,000 would only buy them their name on a car in minor circuits, no NASCAR or Bush Series ( types ) were to be had at that price. They were talking at least a million for any NASCAR type sponsorship in 1988 ( Winston Cup was more expensive ).

[MJY1288]

Here is one for ya :-)

[noutopia]

Hunting is not redneck,where do you get that from?

[giznort]

I also remember when Beelzebubba was campaigning in '92 and rode on the coattails of Mark Martin through the Winston Cup garage......it was reported that the crews and lookers-on booed him, ignored him, refused to shake his hand, and even went so far as to call out "draft dodger". So, you see, they don't necessarily buy these phoney baloney politico's fake interest in the sport. Take their money? Hell yes. But they underestimate the intelligence of the average fan. NASCAR has been very supportive of our military endeavors, noted especially during the Gulf War and after our military action in Afghanistan and Iraq, so I doubt the common unwashed masses (no doubt as how the DNC candidates view NASCAR fans)will buy their spiel.

Whew. Where's the Tylenol?

[MJY1288]

To be a primary sponsor of a Winston Cup car would cost you about 3 million a year. Bob Graham is a co-sponsor of a Busch Series car. That deal probably cost him about $250,000.00 for the rest of the season

[SevenofNine]

BTW Dale SRRRR meet with Ronnie before the Race

YEAHHHH

So he meeting with Dubya in this pic but back in da day he met with Ronnie

Ronnie could hang out with NASCAR reason hey dude start out as sport announcer COME ON this before Warner bros days way before

That how Ronnie got discover

[SevenofNine]

OH YEAH that is true back in da day Clinton did campaign he got boo LOLOL!

Rack NASCAR folks race car driver

OH GOD AS IF

[Jeff Gordon]

I know lots of NASCAR fans. None of them or liberals or democrats. None. Not one.

[jagrmeister]

Great- please keep posting articles from the New York Times. If conservatives keep flocking to NYT like fleas to dung, I guess there goes any campaign to delegitimize it.

[HitmanLV]

I noticed that line also - no offense to NASCAR fans, but what kind of a weird conclusion is that? Can the same be said of baseball fans? football fans? Well, maybe Jets fans. :-) WWE fans? Truth is, I am a fan of (almost) all the above, but I can't say that any area's fans have a notable tendency to being fiercly independent.

This article is a big zero - I don't figure conspiracy, I figure somewriter was way past deadline and had to hand in something, fast!

[SAJ]

Know thine enemy, right? (w!)