Obama not doing NASCAR sponsorship

JOLIET, Ill. — NASCAR's BAM Racing team has presented Barack Obama's presidential campaign with a potential sponsorship deal in the Sprint Cup series later this year, but it doesn't look like an Obama car will be burning rubber on the track anytime soon.

BAM team spokesman Rhett Vandiver told The Associated Press on Friday that the team made a sponsorship proposal to the Democratic presidential hopeful's campaign, and has made similar proposals to the campaign of Republican John McCain and at least one third-party candidate.

Late Friday, the Obama campaign said there would be no sponsorship.

"The Obama campaign will not be sponsoring a car in the Sprint Cup series, though we will continue to look for ways to reach out to voters and convey Senator Obama's message of change." said Bill Burton, an Obama campaign spokesman

Sports Illustrated first reported the proposal on its Web site, saying Obama's campaign is in talks with BAM, a part-time operation that hasn't raced in recent weeks, to sponsor its No. 49 car in the Aug. 3 race at Pocono.

"The Obama campaign will not be sponsoring a car in the Sprint Cup series, though we will continue to look for ways to reach out to voters and convey Senator Obama's message of change." Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman

It would have been a fairly bold move within a sport whose competitors spend all year turning left on the track but tend to lean to the right politically.

BAM's choice of drivers and car brands might have been a little too sticky politically for the Obama camp.

The car, a Toyota _ the only foreign automaker racing in NASCAR _ would be driven by veteran Ken Schrader.

According to the Federal Election Commission's Web site, Schrader gave $1,000 to the campaign of North Carolina Republican congressman Robin Hayes in June 2004, and a total of $2,500 in 2003 and 2004 to the failed Virginia congressional campaign of Republican Kevin Triplett, a former NASCAR official.

Also according to the FEC, Mrs. Ann Schrader of Concord, N.C. and Ken Schrader Racing donated a total of $2,000 to President Bush's campaign in May 2004 and $900 to the North Carolina Republican Executive Committee in August 2004.

NASCAR has been playing an increasing role in politics, as so-called "NASCAR dads" were considered a key constituency in recent elections.

A Cup series car carried a George W. Bush logo in 2004 but wasn't officially associated with the campaign. And Democratic presidential hopeful Bob Graham sponsored a truck in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2003.

Comments

[lunchbag]

Obama can try, but race fans (Nascar) are pretty conmmited, most follow one team or driver and don't deviate throughout the season. In general, most race fans have already committed to which party they want to win, before the primaries.

Suspect NASCAR fans are mostly Republician.

Some swing vote will occur, but cost to get them will be greater then the gain they will give.

Most swing voters are indecisive, and are similiar to the soccer mom who pulls up to a 4 way stop and looks left/right several times. Even though there is no traffic at the stop or coming. Those type of indivduals will more likely change vote

[pie8ter]

Obama is not trying to get Nascar votes. He wants McCindy to spend money in states he doesn't need to.

[NTO08]

That's OK...Obama­'s money gravy train is drying up...I wonder why.

The Repubs are raising uber cash, and there is no doubt they will outspend Obama wherever they need to do it, with whatever means necessary.­..if that means doing their usual dirty tricks, so be it...

[kravitz]

Another extremely stupid idea. What's going on with that guy.

This is as dumb as the Access Hollywood interview he now regrets.

Pandering, egotistical, excessive. And let's not forget how it rubs the issue of SAVING THE EARTH and CONSERVING RESOURCES the wrong way.

Al Gore must feel like he made a mistake too.

What's with all the dumb ideas from Obama lately....­.

[NoahVail]

"What's with all the dumb ideas from Obama lately....­."

He is trying to relate to those voters who decide in the last week before the election.

[NASCARLiberal]

Obviously this "kravitz" is not the great LENNY KRAVITZ who gave the best ever "GENTLEMEN STAAAART YOOOOUUUUR ENGINE!"

[eden4barack08]

It's called CAMPAIGNING to be President of ALL the people of the U.S.A.!

[gloriar8]

Is this fundraising, for the revenue he lost after FISA?

[imusintheevening]

That's the reason I not sending any money - let him try to raise cash from crackers.

[NASCARLiberal]

Well, "imus" we wouldn't think YOU would EVER be sending money to a Democrat!! Now go wash out those sheets before you go to bed ... you know how those flamin' torches singe the corners!

[eden4barack08]

Sponsoring is more like 'spending' revenue, not fundraising for revenue.

[NASCARLiberal]

Right eden4, but in this case the sponsorship (and having that car on screen potentially off and on for 4-5 hours) means spending way less than it would be to buy several commercial spots to air during a NASCAR event. This is totally a slick way of reaching a GIGANTIC audience with his message at a comparatively tiny cost!

I do think he needs to do this again in OCTOBER in ATLANTA with lots of related events downtown Race Week Saturday at Centennial!! Across from CNN and just down the street from the resting spot of Dr. King. A spot in the Atlanta race and activities would be SO ASTUTE!!!!! GENIUS!! And Atlanta has such a good mix of American NASCAR fans!

[NASCARLiberal]

And, I too am sitting watching the Nationwide race tonight ... a completely SOLD OUT race in CHICAGOLAND (many from Canada actually come to this race ... and from across both of the big ponds too ... I was astonished at how many Russian fans there are who travel to see this!) In fact both races this weekend are completely SOLD OUT --- in CHICAGO. Actually, Barack should be here in his state for this one too!

Do most of the folks who post on here realize that states that don't have race tracks are begging and pleading to get them??? Do they know Canada is begging for a couple, or at least one. Do you know that NASCAR races in Mexico once each year? Do you know that in the past NASCAR has traveled to race in Japan???

It is truly INTERNATIONAL in its appeal, and Obama does want to be INTERNATIONAL in his approach ... again, ... he is NOW on the right track!!

[crusty]

It smacks, more than a bit, of pandering. Those voters are probably unreachable, anyway. Why bother? A bit reminiscent of Hillary having boilermakers with the union guys.

[strifeknot]

Yes. He seemed to rise above such nonsense during the primaries, but since clinching the nomination, it's non-stop pandering and capitulation on issues of great importance.

[NoahVail]

You are such an elitist, and out-of-touch. Are you sipping a latte right now?

[DEMTRUPATRIOTS]

talk about pandering.­...maybe he kin git himself a bi-level hair cut while he's playing 'good 'ol southern boy'

[auntbaby]

so let me get this straight..­this spring BO had a problem with white men..now he tries to reach out to them and this is wrong? i say at least he is reaching out to them, they may not respond, but at least he is trying.

[moonjumper]

This would be a terrible mistake -- zero upside; monumental downside. If you thought the bowling thing was bad, this would be much, much worse. That was generally viewed as trying-too-hard; this NASCAR folly would generate laughter.

--And what happens if the crowd boos?

--What happens if (when) the car crashes? The media's zombie-like fascination with shark attacks, wildfires, and Jesse Jackson comments is well established. Those stories are all low-hanging fruit. They're juicy and easy. Add an Obama NASCAR crash to that list. The metaphor -- how the crash relates to Obama's campaign -- would simply be too delicious to pass up. Imagine three weeks hence and the Obama campaign has just gone through a rough patch: "Sean, it seems like ever since the NASCAR crash, Obama's campaign has been stuck in reverse!" Or blown a tire. Or run out of gas. Or gone in the ditch. Or...you get the idea.

--And what happens if, God forbid, the driver crashes and dies? I'm serious.

Zero upside.

[NASCARLiberal]

The crowds boo the current championship leader, loudly and often, ... and his name is Busch ... and it really doesn't seem to matter when they boo. It is part of the fun. I seriously do NOT think they will boo that car anymore than they boo Kyle Busch.

And, if you watched NASCAR you'd know it is now one of the safer sports out there. The crashes can look spectacular but if you understand physics, speed, and scrubbing off speed, (and the incredible roll cage design of the car) you know they aren't as dangerous as they look. "I" drive them and I'm not a REAL race car driver ... believe me I wouldn't do it if it weren't safe! Every weekend, pre-race, some big non-racer celebrity (Jay Leno, Lisa Marie Presley, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, etc) hops in the car for a televised hot lap ... seriously, it is FUN.

So, seriously, moonjumper ... learn something CURRENT about NASCAR before making non-credible comments!

ZERO DOWNSIDE!

[michigangirl]

So because you can't predict what will happen you shouldn't do it. That is the kind of thinking that leaves people nowhere. You have to venture and try something. You act as if Barack will be driving the car - he won't. Many companies put their names on the cars. In fact, it is about reaching out. Everyone in that stadium may not vote for him but think about all the people he will reach on television. That is not pandering that is marketing. As a person who owns my own business - that kind of marketing and mass distribution is priceless.

[eden4barack08]

My, my, my. And if we all had a crystal ball, we'd probably never leave the house.

[truthbetold99]

I hate this idea and it goes against the Senator's preaching about how we need to be more mindful of our fuel use.

I'm a supporter of his but right now I feel like channeling Hillary: Shame on you, Barack.

[tabrahams]

to read more about the company obama might sponsor:

http://thevote.abc13.com/2008/07/start-your-engi.html

[NASCARLiberal]

Thanks for posting this link. My company has actually been one of the secondary sponsors on this car in past races. And, you can be too for as little as $100. They provide the link for you to take that step. How great if Obama is on the front and MANY of us choose to pony up to also put OUR names on or our company names on with him?? Pretty kewl stuff! And I guarantee you it is TOTALLY TRIPPY to have your name on the car (you get a photo of it) even if it is fairly small.

The article at that link points out that the car will be the talk of the race even if it doesn't perform well, and for relatively inexpensive airtime!! Great point.

[NASCARLiberal]

Hillary was smart enough to have SARAH FISHER, Indy-car driver, as one of her Hill-raiser supporters. And Hill would have looked pretty spiffy in a NOMEX racing suit too.

[indypete]

Okay, Nascar cars use a lot of gas individually but the fuel use of all motor racing on the planet doesn't add up to a hill of beans in the big picture. That's not the point. I think it's a bad idea but for totally different reasons.

[NASCARLiberal]

All the racing on the planet doesn't amount to a fraction of what booooshie has wasted in Iraq! And the pollution from bombs, artillery, convoys ... NASCAR fuel use is a drizzle in comparison.

[TheNuff]

Git-R-Done!

[CessnaDriver]

It has got to be one of the worst DBA names of all time: BAM Racing.

I know that it stands for Barbara Ann Morganthau, but still. NASCAR fans also still recall that it was a BAM car that had no business on the Cup racetrack that crashed out "Junior" and damned near killed him. in California a few years back.

One shouldn't think that the NASCAR crowd is all conservative-at one race I went to, I heard a good portion of the crowd-about 20 per cent-Boo, believe it or not, the pre-race prayer!

The line in the prayer, given in the asending-volume method of a Southern Baptist sermon, ended with, "And thank GOD! for OUR PRESIDENT, George W. Bush!!"

The thought downthread about using the special number 08 is a great one-for instance, there is a 7 car and an 07 car (for Jack Daniels old No. 7).

[NASCARLiberal]

BAM has never had the money to have top notch equipment and therefor has in fact been part of some very unfortunate accidents. And, one can never forget that Ken Schrader (nice man) WAS one of the two cars that impacted with Dale Earnhardt in his final crash. Ken was not in BAM equipment when that crash happened though. It just goes to show that even in the finest equipment, for the top teams, before all the safety equipment was introduced, some wrecks were scary ... some fatal.

I believe that racing is now quite a bit safer. They "stepped up" and addressed the issue, at the top two levels of racing ... it is now much safer. And for those who aren't fans of the sport, they probably need to know that "NASCAR" does not own all those teams ... each team has an owner, and the drivers are "contracted" by the team owners. So, the sport structure is not as simple as some might think. In many ways ownership is more complex than in other sports.

I too have heard many NASCAR people dis ol booooshie. He and his administration are fairly well HATED by a large segment of the fans and teams of NASCAR. I'd bet boooshie never fully watched a NASCAR race in his life and certainly would not have the ability to understand the finer details of it.

[AmbroseChapel]

I'm not how I feel about this as a whole... I will say one thing... It's great to see a group of people that have been so loyal to one party be courted by another. Obama has guts I'll give him that. Bush really screwed up.... Only his malice could enable this...

[NASCARLiberal]

I think the "republicans" have done a good job of conning voters into THINKING they, the repigs, own the NASCAR vote. I

n fact they never have. Yeah, some big names in NASCAR (Richard Petty, Jack Rousch, Dale Jarrett) have given potloads of money to boooshie campaigns, but it does not mean that the sport is owned by the Republicans. BILL CLINTON owned the NASCAR vote ... because he knew what a diverse group of people it was in the 90s and he never talked down to us. The sport grew to its enormous successfulness during the years Bill was in office ... it owes a lot to those 8 years of peace and prosperity. Fans could afford to buy tickets and travel to races. Sponsors had the $18 million or so that it costs to sponsor a car for a full season.

Under bbboooshie, everyone in NASCAR has suffered ... and they know it. These are smart people. Only the die-hards will stick with the rethugs. This entire base can once again come home to the Democrats. It will require, however, that people like Howard Dean refrain from foolishly calling us drivers of "rusty pickups with gun racks."

Obama's on the "right track" ... no pun intended!! I would like to see him have a HUGE presence in the October race in ATLANTA ... at the track AND at the downtown Saturday festivities pre-race. It would be awesome!

[AmbroseChapel]

Great points. I think that the votes are there for him. As long as he doesn't brandish a cowboy hat or something. He just needs to tell people that he's on their side even if they're not voting for him. He'll gain more respect that way. Pretty smart campaign. I'm still baffled by the FISA vote though.

[letsgetsmart]

Considering that the msm is against the dems, I don't have a problem with this because I have said repeatedly that the dems need to come up with alternative ways of getting to the people in restricted info areas. Using this venue is a nifty way of making an end run around the republican media in those areas. Any other bright ideas like this are definitely needed. Look around people and put some ideas together. We know that they read these posts.

[speakeasy]

As I watch the Nationwide Race in Chicago this article is right on time. I've met quite an eclectic group of race fans during my travels to racing venues and Obama may be pleasantly surprised buthere will be some harsh reaction from a few of the more ignorant of the fans, but that can happen anywhere.
Keep in mind that many of NASCARS races are north of the Mason Dixon line as well as out west so it will get decent exposure. I'm not saying he'll be wdielt accepted, but he'll do alright as long as he sticks to the economy and away from the war. Some commercials during the race will really hammer the point home.

[NASCARLiberal]

So right, speakeasy. MOST of the racetracks are not in the south anymore. Most of the drivers aren't born in the south anymore. Current points leader Kyle Busch was born in Las Vegas!! Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson - California. Tony Stewart - Indiana. Matt Kenseth - Wisconsin. Kasey Kahne - Washington state. And on and on. Not to disparage the south, southerners can be just as liberal as anyone in the north.

And watch the pre-race shows, OFTEN the minister who gives the invocation is black. Probably the best EVER "Gentlemen, start your engines" was given by Lenny Kravitz ... it was legendary!! Vanessa Williams once sung the National Antheum at TALLADEGA (probably the closest track to fitting the stereotype­.) These are not even "unusual" facts ... just a selective few I've picked from many.

The car will be seen by MILLIONS of people watching on TV. Win or lose, it will get BIG attention. BUT, it needs good "pre-race" marketing ... a NASCAR savvy, Democrat, event coordinator that takes it to the level it needs to reach.

AND, there needs to be a booth bought at EVERY NASCAR event and don't forget the downtown Atlanta "Race Week" party in Centennial Park!! EVERYONE in town comes out!! Timewise --- great positioning. RIght across from CNN, and just a short walk away from that great man sleeping down the street, ... this would be an AWESOME opportunity for Barack to meet & greet the people who love NASCAR and who

[NoahVail]

I think it should be Car #08.

[NASCARLiberal]

That would be great ... probably can't happen.

However, there are LOTS of teams out there who need sponsorship. And many others that would just plain ol LOVE having Barack Obama support their mission. Kewl that they seem to be picking Beth Ann's team ... there are other women owners of teams but Beth Ann is one of the most enduring and endearing.

[KBAR]

http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/car.php?carno_id=148

Sorry, its taken.

[NoahVail]

Well, OK. How about #43 then?