You will be given a trivia clue, and the category it belongs to. You should answer with the best answer that belongs in the category and is described by the clue. For simplicity, answers should be in all lower cased letters.

Q: Category: POLITICIANS 
Clue: This champion stock-car racer lost the 1996 race for North Carolina's Secretary of State

A: richard petty
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Q: Category: CLASSICAL MUSIC 
Clue: Mendelssohn's "Songs without Words" were once the most popular pieces for this instrument

A: piano
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Q: Category: "PAN"HANDLING 
Clue: It's an 8-letter word for a long, slender cigar

A:
panatela
****