When former United States President Donald Trump decided to attend the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte, North Carolina over the weekend, it wasn’t just because he wanted to watch a race. It was actually a genius political move as part of his 2024 presidential campaign.
As a couple of experts explained to the Charlotte Observer this week, the decision from Donald Trump to attend the race is a savvy move given how much publicity it will get him among his potential voters in North Carolina, a key swing state in the upcoming election.
“It’s a great visibility thing,” said Republican strategist Larry Shaheen.
Shaheen pointed out that the vast majority of NASCAR fans lean conservative politically, so he’s appearing in front of the right people.
“Politically, it fits his base,” Shaheen said of Sunday’s expected crowd.
Shaheen said that appearances like this are a “winning strategy” for Trump because fans and spectators are largely from the American working class, which generally supports Trump.
“With all his flaws and character issues, it’s funny because he has been a hero of the working man over the course of the last several years,” Shaheen said. “… It’s a winning strategy.”
And as political scientist Eric Heberlig points out, appearances like this help Trump reach an audience that otherwise may not have been exposed to him.
“The bulk of the audience there isn’t there to see him. They’re there for the event. So it allows him to reach a broader audience than he otherwise would,” Heberlig said.
All in all, it seems like a pretty genius political move from Trump, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Because it gets national attention.
— Donna Thornhill (@thornhill_5197) May 26, 2024
Because most nascar fans are members of his cult.
— VelvetWaffles
(@VelvetWaffles) May 26, 2024
He’s one of them
— @vincenthinton (@hintonvl) May 26, 2024
— Trey Cameron (@getonthelake) May 26, 2024
Anything to pretend he has more support than he does. He’s an anti American traitorous rapist who needs to be in jail. Not running for president.
— Paul (@Paulscool) May 25, 2024
Photo op
— LostHippie48
(@LostHippie48) May 28, 2024
The best part about all of this for Trump is that all the publicity doesn’t cost him a thing.
“And it’s free,” Heberlig said. “He doesn’t have to pay for it in his paid advertising.”
