A couple nights ago the Republican nominee appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter.  Among the topics of discussion were McCain’s interest - both at the personal and policy level - in the sport of boxing and his recent appearance at a New Hampshire NASCAR race.  Perhaps the most striking comment came when discussing his runningmate. On Gov. Palin McCain referenced her experience in athletic activities and competition saying that she would certainly need those experiences over the coming weeks.  We certainly agree with Senator McCain, the lessons Palin will likely draw upon her experiences in competition throughout the remainder of the campaign, and likely even more so when in office should the Republicans come out on top in November.

Certainly most anyone can recall the Major League Baseball commercials starring actor/comedian Dane Cook last year, repetitively announcing that there is indeed “Only One October.” The point was clear enough: once a year the pressure is on, the best teams in the league compete, and one champion is crowned. As we are currently witnessing the end of the season with several interesting races still afoot it is interesting to see how the MLB rivals the intensity of election season. And in the spirit of a previous post on the NFL it should be noted that both of Senator Obama’s hometown teams - though he claims to solidly be a Sox fan - are at the moment leading their divisions.

This article from Portfolio details the skating prowess and subsequent business activities of Tony Hawk.  It is a great example of the type of value that athletic life lessons can hold in other arenas.  Hawk credits the determination and instincts developed in his skating career as fundamental advantages in his rise in the world of business.  Other key insights from the article with some relevance to the political realm are found in his dedication to maintain true to the identity of the skating community - there are countless examples of how politics today have become very much identity based.  As such campaigns would do well to observe Hawk’s business success in attempts to appeal to specific communities like extreme sports enthusiasts or racing fans.

This past weekend the Republican nominee John McCain spent some time in New Hampshire at the NASCAR track in Loudon.  You may recall that earlier in the NASCAR and election seasons the Democratic nominee Senator Obama actually caused quite a stir with his campaign’s sponsorship of a car at a Pocono race.  With the size and loyalty of the NASCAR fanbase it should come as no surprise that their races have become a hot-spot for political activity.  President Bush aggressively courted the NASCAR faithful in the pat two elections and most accounts suggest that Republicans maintain a sizable lead among this significant crowd.

While the political candidates duke it out on the Sunday talk show circuit, their athletic proxies are often found to be going after it on the football field. Senator Obama, for example, is a Bears fan and we assume that Senator McCain is himself a fan of the Cardinals. Well if this past weekend is any indicator, things are looking up for the Republican as the Cardinals advanced to 2-0 on the season while the Bears fell to 1-1.

In a recent interview with Charlie Gibson of ABC News, the Republican Vice Presidential nominee made it clear that she was prepared to take on  the Democratic Presidential nominee - in a game of horse.  While she couldn’t remember her exact stat lines from her playing days, the interview did feature several scenes in her high school gymnasium and a shot of the school’s trophy case, to which she has contributed.

In a recent interview with David Letterman Democratic  Presidential nominee Barack Obama  mentioned his newest campaign ally: former President Bill Clinton.  When prompted by Letterman on whether President Clinton would be a likely Cabinet member in an Obama administration the Senator responded with the following:

”I think it’s sort of been there, done that. It’s sort of like getting Mickey Mantle to play AAA. You don’t do it. But obviously you consult with him as often as you can, because, look, there are only a handful of people who have actually done the job.”

With under 60 days until election day the game is certainly afoot in the Presidential election, as well as significant Senate, House, and state and local contests across the country.  At the top of the ticket we have seen the adoption of a Moose-hunting, basketball-shooting Vice Presidential nominee spicing up the athletic profile for the Republican party.  Note that there have still been more recent reports of the Deomocratic Presidential nominee’s affinity for the hardcourt, so perhaps a showdown between the two parties could occur outside of the upcoming debates.

The past month has seen a plethora of political and athletic news dominating the American media landscape.  From the Olympics right through both major party conventions there have been countless reminders of the rich intersection between athletics and civic life in the United States.  As election day nears Jock the Vote will be working to publicize this meaningful relationship, enthuse political participation, and highlight important news on candidates and their athletic backgrounds.  A tribute to the historical evidence of the strong leadership skills that athletic participation has imparted on previous generations will be displayed on a daily basis with profiles of civic leaders with sizable athletic achievements.

Jock the Vote!