http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/03NewsHEAD01050704.htmby Donna Callea
DAYTONA BEACH --
What began as a massive Christian prayer meeting evolved into a rousing Republican political rally Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway. Thousands of area residents -- who gathered for a National Day of Prayer event organized by local ministers and a task force with close ties to the Christian Right --
praised the Lord and then heard a high-level Cabinet member praise President Bush."He's a leader you can trust 100 percent of the time," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans told the crowd, after a local "Army of God" dance troupe dressed in T-shirt fatigues performed a religious song with a military beat.
Judging by the enthusiastic applause, Evans, who chaired Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, was preaching to the choir when he extolled the virtues of his longtime friend. "We knew him when nobody else was watching," said the former oilman from Midland, Texas, who's credited with sparking Bush's religious fervor.
The local event was part of a five-city National Day of Prayer program televised nationally on Christian stations. The other cities were New York, Washington, D.C., St. Louis and Lancaster, Pa.
Organizers had hoped for a crowd of 10,000, but less than half that number were in the Speedway stands.more...
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