Cheney hopes to fire up “NASCAR dads” at race

By Patricia Wilson

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) – Four months before
crucial congressional elections, Vice President Dick Cheney saw
his first stock-car race on Saturday and hoped to fire up
traditionally conservative “NASCAR dads” to turn out and vote.

After Air Force Two buzzed the crowd, sweeping as low as
1,000 feet over the racetrack, Cheney’s black SUV took a lap
around the Daytona speedway at a sedate 65 mph (105 kph).

Infield spectators perched atop behemoth recreational
vehicles waved American flags and banners proclaiming devotion
to their favorite drivers and the beer companies that sponsor
them.

“On Independence Day, we’re reminded how fortunate we are
to live in freedom and call this nation home,” Cheney told more
than 100,000 assembled to watch the Pepsi 400 at Daytona
International speedway, the mecca of stock-car racing.

“We’re are grateful above all to the men and women who
defend us,” he said to whoops and cheers.

“NASCAR dads,” a U.S. political term coined in recent
years, refers to blue-collar, overwhelmingly white, mostly
Southern men. Staunch supporters of the military and sometimes
avid hunters, they like to see cars hurtle around an asphalt
track at speeds of up to 200 mph (320 kph).

They also are an important part of the Republican political
base and the party will need to get them to the polls in
November if it wants to retain control of the U.S. Senate and
House of Representatives.

Cheney, a powerful but not very popular vice president,
most often makes public appearances in front of sympathetic
audiences to rally the Republican faithful. With the 43 race
drivers standing behind him against the backdrop of a huge
American flag, he spoke only briefly and was politely received.

CHECKED SHIRTS AND KHAKIS

Cheney’s Secret Service detail shed their dark suits and
ties for open-necked checked shirts hanging loose over khaki
pants and donned well-worn baseball caps — all the better to
blend in.

Appearing at Daytona has been something of a tradition for
Republican administrations. Head-liners in past years have
included Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, former Presidents
Ronald Reagan and George Bush, the current president’s father.

George W. Bush served as grand marshal for the Pepsi 400
during his 2000 presidential campaign.

Democrats considering a possible White House bid in 2008
are aware that their nominee must be able to relate to voters
like NASCAR dads.

“We need to do a better job of reaching out to voters who
are currently voting for Republicans when it’s not in their
best economic interests.” said Democratic National Committee
spokeswoman Stacie Paxton. “Democrats too often feel they need
to explain every detail of policy rather than talk about their
values and how those values impact their positions, but now
that’s changing.”

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a possible Democratic
White House candidate, drew blank stares at a party conference
in Washington last month when he mentioned NASCAR driver
Elliott Sadler.

“If you want to get back in America, you better know who
Elliott Sadler is,” he said to laughter.