Romney to NASCAR fans: I wear 'garbage bags' too

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's latest attempt to win over racing fans may have backfired after he referred to their rain ponchos as "garbage bags."

While attending the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Romney told The Associated Press that he didn't follow the sport closely as some fans "but I have some friends who are NASCAR team owners."

He was also quoted mocking the inexpensive rain ponchos that fans often buy when bad weather pops up as it did on Sunday.

“I like those fancy raincoats you bought. Really sprung for the big bucks,” he reportedly said.

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Wednesday asked Romney if it was even worth making those kind of jokes because Democrats would attack him as a "snob."

"You know, it's hard to imagine all the things they are going to try and turn into attacks," the former Massachusetts governor replied. "That's the first time I've heard the one that you've mentioned."

"Look, I've worn a garbage bag for rain gear myself," he added. "We're out there in the rain. The rain was getting us soaked. I didn't have a raincoat myself. I would have liked one of those."

As most sports fans know, the emergency rain ponchos sold at outdoor events are, in fact, not garbage bags. They are inexpensive hooded, plastic coverings that usually sell for less than $10.

Watch this video from Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, broadcast Feb. 29, 2012.

(H/T: The Washington Post)