Pelosi Skips Calif. Primary to Work the NASCAR Vote
(Washington Post) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has remained neutral in the Democratic presidential primary. So much so that instead of spending Super Tuesday getting out the vote in her state's crucial primary contest or capitalizing off all the press attention -- she stayed in Washington to schmooze with a NASCAR driver.
Pelosi, who voted on an absentee ballot last week (for whom, we know not), hosted two-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson in her Capitol suite Tuesday afternoon for the ostensible purpose of congratulating him on his recent victory.
The meeting and photo-op is also a great chance for House Democrats to continue making inroads with the "NASCAR Dad" vote. But House Republicans are hoping to cut Democrats off at the pass, especially in light of the little controversy last fall in which a Democratic official suggested staffers should get immunizations for various diseases before heading on a congressional delegation trip to NASCAR Country. Democrats later said the suggestion was made because staffers would be visiting health care facilities -- and had nothing to do with NASCAR.
But the perceived gaffe was a gift to Republicans, who kicked their spin machine into overdrive trying to win political points with the coveted NASCAR constituency. They continued today, with word that Pelosi was meeting with Johnson.
"The Democrats better hope that Nancy Pelosi received her immunization shots before taking the podium with Jimmie Johnson today," says National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain, who's known for his love of NASCAR. "She might come down with a case of red-blooded Americanism if she isn't careful."
Not to be outdone, Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly sounded more than confident that Democrats have the NASCAR vote and then some to sweep the 2008 elections. "With both Democratic candidates' campaigns in high gear, the Speaker looks forward to watching the returns this evening as we move one lap closer to the finish line and a Democratic President."
Pelosi, who voted on an absentee ballot last week (for whom, we know not), hosted two-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson in her Capitol suite Tuesday afternoon for the ostensible purpose of congratulating him on his recent victory.
The meeting and photo-op is also a great chance for House Democrats to continue making inroads with the "NASCAR Dad" vote. But House Republicans are hoping to cut Democrats off at the pass, especially in light of the little controversy last fall in which a Democratic official suggested staffers should get immunizations for various diseases before heading on a congressional delegation trip to NASCAR Country. Democrats later said the suggestion was made because staffers would be visiting health care facilities -- and had nothing to do with NASCAR.
But the perceived gaffe was a gift to Republicans, who kicked their spin machine into overdrive trying to win political points with the coveted NASCAR constituency. They continued today, with word that Pelosi was meeting with Johnson.
"The Democrats better hope that Nancy Pelosi received her immunization shots before taking the podium with Jimmie Johnson today," says National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain, who's known for his love of NASCAR. "She might come down with a case of red-blooded Americanism if she isn't careful."
Not to be outdone, Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly sounded more than confident that Democrats have the NASCAR vote and then some to sweep the 2008 elections. "With both Democratic candidates' campaigns in high gear, the Speaker looks forward to watching the returns this evening as we move one lap closer to the finish line and a Democratic President."
posted by BP News Bureau | 10:59 AM
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