THE NASCAR VOTE AND MICHAEL MOORE

For better or worse, Michael Moore has helped galvanize public opinion among would-be American voters. But his true effect is going to be measured by how much of a crossover audience he'll garner with his latest film, "Fahrenheit 9/11." The following excerpt from his Web site came as a surprise, if not outright shock.

Surfing through the dial I landed on the Fox broadcasting network which was airing the NASCAR race live last Sunday to an audience of millions of Americans -- and suddenly the announcers were talking about how NASCAR champ Dale Earnhardt, Jr. took his crew to see "Fahrenheit 9/11" the night before. FOX sportscaster Chris Myers delivered Earnhardt's review straight out of his mouth and into the heartland of America: "He said hey, it'll be a good bonding experience no matter what your political belief. It's a good thing as an American to go see."