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Trump Looks to Rev Up His Base at Daytona 500

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is out to rev up his appeal with a
   key voting demographic--NASCAR fans--as he takes in the Daytona 500 on
   Sunday.

   NASCAR drivers may veer to the left during their trip around the oval
   racetrack, but their fans lean right, which helps explain the
   regularity with which GOP presidents have made their way to the track.

   Trump will be the second sitting president to attend the Daytona 500,
   after George W. Bush in 2004. Like Trump, he also attended the race
   during a presidential election year.

   RepublicanPresidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush also visited
   the track at Daytona but during races other than the 500.

   This year, Trump will serve as grand marshal and give the command for
   drivers to start their engines.

   Two-part appeal

   Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman under George W. Bush, said the
   visit should appeal to Trump on two fronts.

   ``There's a real sense of positive, overwhelming affirmation to hear
   the roar of the crowd. What politician doesn't want that?'' Fleischer
   said. ``Secondly, there's what I call the reverberation effect. People
   watching at home, who hear the roar of the crowd for a president, that
   can drive them toward some sense of approval or fondness or liking for
   thepresident.``

   Just in case anyone misses the point, Trump's reelection campaign will
   run a TV ad during the Fox broadcast of the race and fly an aerial
   banner near the speedway.

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