Word: nascar
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Yesterday afternoon, Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. Graham has previously indicated that he hopes to obtain the support of so-called “NASCAR Democrats.” Broadly speaking, NASCAR Democrats are rural, conservative voters—presumably fans of stock car racing—who normally back the GOP. Therefore, Graham will likely try to broaden his base with appeals to rural interests and elements of Republican social policy. Two of his campaign strategists, Dave Saunders and Steve Jarding, used similar tactics in helping Democrat Mark Warner...
Pundits have estimated that NASCAR Democrats could play a decisive role in several of 2004’s most critical Democratic primaries, including the one in Virginia. The assistance of Saunders and Jarding may indeed swing these voters into Graham’s camp. However, the Florida senator should be careful not to neglect what is arguably the most crucial factor in gaining the NASCAR vote: being tough on national security issues...
...NASCAR universe is unabashedly patriotic. What’s more, the typical driver or fan is today a Bush Republican. Some drivers have made openly political statements in recent weeks, affirming their support for Bush’s prosecution of the war on terror. Michael Waltrip, for example, caused quite a stir with his post-race comments at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in early March. After finishing third in the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, Waltrip told the TV cameras “I would like to say, ‘God bless our president. I hope the whole country...
...contrary to what some may think, NASCAR patriotism is not just mindless bravado. Nor is it simply my-country-right-or-wrong jingoism. To be sure, there exists a much more profound connection between NASCAR and the American military. Indeed, it’s a relationship that is unparalleled in the world of sports...
...starters, NASCAR chairman Bill France was once in the Navy, and his brother Jim, also involved with NASCAR, served in the Army. There is a fly-over by military aircraft prior to almost every race. In addition, the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Civil Air Patrol all sponsor racecars. To list just a few: the Army sponsors Jerry Nadeau’s car; the Navy sponsors Jon Wood’s; the Marine Corps sponsors Bobby Hamilton, Jr.’s; the Air Force is an associate sponsor of Ricky Rudd?...