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

[closetodemfection]

Classic! His campaign is deliciously out of control.

When a candidate has a rally, a town hall or a speech, their SUPPORTERS come TO THEM.

That won't be the case at a NASCAR event. It will be infested if not dominated by Mc Cane supporters.

Do they really think the fans will cheer a car with a picture of O's face plastered on it?! This is setting them up for the embarrassment of the century!

Oh, wait that's going to happen next week when it's announced that PUMA has paid off HRC's debt entirely. But I digress...

[NASCARLiberal]

Hey, Closet ...

You seriously DO NOT KNOW bupkus about NASCAR in the 21st Century!!

Thank you BILL LESTER!!! Thank you new team owner RANDY MOSS!!! Thank you all those millions of black NASCAR fans, officials, sponsors, and pit crew members!!! Let them know that we are all happy to see Barack's face on that car!!!

Aloooooohaaaa!!!!!

[closetodemfection]

Wow, I can't argue with your name, clearly you are the expert.

Oh, well, we'll see who's theory prevails.

IMO, he's risking a D ukakis in the helmet, K erry in the space suit moment. Not sure the payoff is worth the risk.

[hank48188]

Good choice Obama, get your face on a Toyota that might not qualify for the race, that should get you lots of points with those white union folks. I noticed that Home Depot hasn't been doing to well, maybe they should have stuck with the Chevy like Lowes

[carlgt1]

as I recall, Cheney was roundly booed at a NASCAR event, so perhaps this idea of Obama's isn't so far-fetched!

[NASCARLiberal]

This is true. I heartily dislike chaingangster BUT when he was in the announcers booth I had to laugh when he said how surprised he was at all the technology in NASCAR!! Yep, a one liner to show that he had NOT ONE CLUE about the sport!! But, to give him his due ... he was honest about that one thing and admitted in that one liner that he was in fact a complete idiot!! An evil idiot. He probably wouldn't have made that comment if he'd had someone scripting him ... then again, he always seems to think voters, thinkers don't matter ... he just dodders on doing his evil deeds.

[doctorwang]

I've heard Mark Penn is buying a car to enter into the remaining races of the Nascar season. It will have a giant PUMA on the hood with "Thank's suckers!" written on either side. It will be numbered 4.5 MILLION. I heard Penn is need of a helmet, so you guys need to step it up a bit paying off the rest of HRC's debt.......!!

[GunneraGirl]

There's something so goofy and weird about a presidential candidate as sober and as intense as Obama doing this, that it's kinda cool.

[NASCARLiberal]

In 2003-4, DEMOCRATIC Presidential Candidate BOB GRAHAM of Florida was actually the FIRST Presidential candidate to put their logo on a NASCAR. It was driverJon Wood's truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. BOB knew that many of the wonderful people who always voted for him in his Senate races were huge NASCAR fans. He knew it and honored us for it. THANK YOU BOB GRAHAM for being a "ground breaker."

But, Obama is stepping it up to the next level ... going in at the CUP level of racing ... SUPER BOLD move!!! Make it happen. Let's go racin', boyz!

[GunneraGirl]

I don't know much about NASCAR, but I have some friends - liberal professor types - who are addicted to it. They're gonna flip over this.

[joeyp404]

Hey, it's a great idea. Let's market the president like we do beer and soft drinks. You know, things that matter. Is it any wonder that Bush supporters did it first?

[NASCARLiberal]

BUSH supporters NEVER put ANYTHING on a NASCAR. They recruit at races heavily, they pay for booths to hand out campaign literature (DEMOCRATS should have ALWAYS been doing that), but they have never, ever paid to be on a car!!! That was ONLY done by DEMOCRAT BOB GRAHAM!!

[joeyp404]

Did you bother to read the article?

[indypete]

"....Let's market the president like we do beer and soft drinks..."

Welcome to the 21st century.

[crusty]

"as freedom is a breakfastfood...." ee cummings

[MetryJen]

Dude, I'm not into NASCAR at all, but it would still be pretty cool to have your name all over one of the cars.

[joeyp404]

Yeah, it fits into posts after he responded to the FISA flop that stated he talked to us as adults.

Gentlemen, start your engines.

[Meah]

Barack. You do not need to trash the 4th amendment. You do not need to do the NASCAR thing. You will win. We cannot take this kind of garbage anymore. We have had enough!

[armadillious2002]

This is great and would be a good move I think. Here are some things that would work better however in my opinion.

If Obama would just come out publicly and say. "It has been reported on a certain News outlet that my tax plan would increase taxes on a family of four making $50,000 per year - this is a lie and the people who are telling you this are liars."

"McCain said I was against calling the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization - this is a lie and evidntly John McCain is a liar."

"It has been reported that I have flip flopped on my Iraq position when in fact I have always supported a 16 month withdrawel time frame. This is a lie and the People who are telling you this are liars."

This is the kind of talk Americans understand and it would put the repubs on the defensive and drive them nuts. No use being nice to them - they ain't gonna be nice to us!

[NASCARLiberal]

Sometimes to get to the real issues, we have to let people know we like to have fun too! I think that is the approach that will win the Presidency. I certainly hope Barack realizes this ... and with the NASCAR approach, I believe he has seen the light!! I firmly believe that no one can become President without winning the NASCAR vote, because that vote is HIGHLY diverse! When you reach out to the NASCAR crowd you are reaching a GIGUNDOUS cross-section.

There are lots of serious issues in this world. We already know that Barack is the one (of the remaining two candidates) who will be on OUR side of those issues!! Now, let's get him into office without every moment of the campaign being about stress and argument! The sooner OUR side stops talking about NASCAR voters as lesser than others, the sooner we will pull the vote together just as it should be.

Let's make it fun! Let's make it light-hearted. Let's let him show the world that he embraces EVERY aspect of great American culture. NASCAR is THE great American sport!!

[olderdem]

I hate this idea. Too much downside and very little upside. Plus, I don't like my money being spent this way.

Just don't see how it advances Obama's message, defines issues or gets any new voters. Its a waste of money, and it isn't cheap.

Buy some time on the NASCAR event and tell the veiwers more about you, Obama.

[FanofPaine]

It will have a HUGE impact. If it gets one or two votes, the money was worth it. I really don't get Nascar, but it says something to those racing fans that he would willing to spend money on a sport they adore. It makes a huge difference that he understands how big Nascar is. I live in a section of Virginia that is in LOVE with Nascar and seeing a car with Obama's name may get ridiculed by some but respected by others.

[NASCARLiberal]

FanofPaine ... YOU get it, you really do!!

Try looking at NASCAR from different perspectives ... you can enjoy it for the zen peacefulness of it or you can enjoy it for the love of the many dynamics of physics it celebrates. Most of us are NOT watching it for the crashes, but now that the sport is safer ... there are some super physics and math lessons in the beauty of some of the synchronized spinning in a good crash.

There is NO DOWN SIDE to an outreach to the MILLIONS of fans of NASCAR. We love it, we love HIM for doing this! Seriously, I would have loved seeing Hillary in a cute little NOMEX fire suit, doing a hot lap with one of the guys. She's a feisty little thing, I think she'd have been great at it!! And, she did get a major endorsement from Indy racer Sarah Fisher.

But, Barack, you have really stepped up to the plate with this one!! It is a winner! Fire it up, on all cylinders!! Ready to RUN!!!

[whitewaterwillie]

Unfortunately, political races are rarely about specific issues, but more about superficial perception. In that sense, I suppose this could help. Although I still don't get NASCAR. Cars going around in a circle?

[NASCARLiberal]

BUYING time on NASCAR is oh, so much more expensive. Do you know how many advertisers want those prime minutes of time on NASCAR??? Check it out! They fight for it. Network can hold them ransom for huge amounts of money!

And if he spends it that way, his voters may be tivo'ing past the commercials (though commercials during NASCAR are some of the more original and entertaining on TV ... I hate to miss any of them).

Buying a one or two time shot on the hood and sides of a car "can" be way cheaper than buying those commercials. AND, there will be lots of commentator "buzz" about it too.

NO DOWN SIDE!!

[ShamusNYC]

Bad idea - so many ways to back fire:

- car crashes
- car loses
- construed as pandering

etc...

[FanofPaine]

Everyone in politics panders.

[MyTake]

Ah, let's see. This is one of the most environmentally polluting sports out there and Obama is going to sponsor pollution just to sniff out the beer drinking red neck votes!

It is a good thing that McCain and his campaign is totally incompetent or they would have a hey-day with the pollution angle.

Obama needs to deploy an environmental advisory chairperson to his campaign and focus on associations with persons or groups that promote environmental responsibility. Might I suggest he attach his name to those companies that manufacture hydrogen fuel cell technology. If Obama is unsure what that is, because he has never mentioned it his speeches, I would suggest he visit the Verizon Building on Long Island or stay a night at the New York Sheraton Hotel, both of which are deploying hydrogen fuel cell generation systems in their buildings that yield zero pollution.

Is it too late for Jessie Ventura to run for President?

[gvc]

I think NASCAR is trash but ...

The environmental damage from the cars pales to the environmental damage due to international events that people fly to from all over the world (e.g. Olympics). Local entertainment is the way to go. Whether or not NASCAR qualifies as local, I'm not sure. But the cars themselves aren't really the issue.

BTW, NASCAR cars burn alcohol.

[NASCARLiberal]

Ahhhhhh, good example gvc, of some real SICK-O thinking ... if you don't like a particular sport, culture, etc ... it is o.k. to call them or it "trash"? Hmmmmmm, my idea of "trash" would be people who are poorly educated on a topic but choose to show the world their stupidity with insulting comments like that.

[CessnaDriver]

NASCAR race cars DO NOT run on ethanol! Indy-type cars do, however. It was a ordeal getting NASCAR to give up the lead, which only has happened in the last few years.

[MyTake]

Pull up a chair and park it in the parking lot of a NASCAR event. Check as they drive in and then drive out and then tell me that it is not a pollution event.

Now if Obama were to drive to and from his events in a new Honda hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, instead of the gas guzzling SUV'S and SUBURBANS that the Secret Service is so fond of, not only would he win the election hands down but in the process he would dramatically educate the public. After all, if actress Jamie Lee Curtis grabbed one of the first Honda hydrogen fuel cell cars off the production line, then the rock star Obama can do the same.

This is a good site to keep abreast of the emerging hydrogen economy: http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/news1.html .

[pupbayer]

Well, shoot, that would get my vote for sure!

[chitown8]

Pup are you serious? We know you? I don't think Randy Moss is a good person to be advocating for O man.

[pupbayer]

Chit, I'm kidding. Obviously, you don't know me! This is just another episode in this surreal campaign. It's like a bad cartoon! The thing that amazes me is that is actually seems to work! It's a pretty sad commentary on the American electorate, for sure.

[NASCARLiberal]

Hmmmmmm, not a Moss-man fan, eh? I'd think we should welcome all kinds of support and advocates! I guess latte-sippers just don't get it.

Of course, surely Bobby Bowden (a good booooshie) didn't advocate for Moss one of the best college athletes EVER. Could run like a gazelle ... a pleasure to watch ... and I'm not a football fan. But, I don't throw away greatness ... I work with it, nurture it, and watch it grow.

[FanofPaine]

As much as I can't understand the lure of Nascar (I don't get the joy for the spectators part), this is a wise move. I've been at church and had fellow churchgoers calling up relatives just to find out who was leading a Nascar game. Nascar is serious. Especially here in the south.

[KPinSEA]

Eh, from the article it sounds like the deal would be with Ken Schrader's car for BAM Racing .... so I hope their sponsorship deal is contingent on Schrader qualifying at Pocono, because that's not exactly a given.

[NASCARLiberal]

This would be great for Beth Ann (female owner of BAM racing), great for the "women of NASCAR" and for whomever is driving it. Schrader isn't always the BAM driver these days. This is a GENUIS move by the Obama team. NASCAR is NOT what most people think it is. It is filled with a true microcosm of truly every segment of American society. Cool that this announcement, too, comes soon after Randy Moss announced he'll be a new NASCAR team owner.

The Obama campaign really needs to have a truly savvy racing event promoter doing this. I'd suggest: www.musicandmotorsports.com ... the best in the business. Political experience, long-time Democratic ownership, female owned, and with all the right connections.

Obama ... great to see you onboard with this! NASCAR includes rocket science and rocket scientists. NASCAR includes your children's history teacher, your son's medical school researcher's, the guy who does the maintenance on your elevatar and picks up your garbage, the miners who pull the coal out of the ground to create the energy we run on, and people from about every walk of life imaginable!! Hooray for YOU!! This is a WINNING move!

[NASCARLiberal]

Nice move here ... BAM is owned by a woman ... Beth Ann Morganthau!! Great positioning!! Way to go Obama!! NASCAR IS ALL ABOUT DIVERSITY.

[indypete]

While I can't say I personally know much aabout NASCAR, I'm not sure this is a good idea. Not from the redneck stereotype point of view either, I have no doubt you know what you're talking about when you say that is largely in the past. My concern is about what the "other side" can twist out of it, all the analogies they can build out of irrelevancies. If the car places well back in the field, if it crashes (especially if, God forbid, the driver is killed), if it has mechanical trouble and is forced out of the race. Fox news and the rush would have a field day drawing false parralells then repeating them ad nauseum like sound bites of a crazy black preacher. Even if the car wins, they'd be drawing analogies of cheating. And, of course the charges of pandering based upon the redneck stereotype. It may be out of date but most people don't know that.

[ATL78]

I guess Barack and David A. weren't lying about going after every vote! That's good but, the marketing does seem overdone at times. I sure hope he doesn't go out of style before Nov. 4th.

[ohmercy]

LOL

[dajay]

This guy is taking pandering to a whole new level.

Got to laugh at this one.

[luvobama]

B O will never go out of style. He'll go on like the Beatles and Stones. Timeless.

[dajay]

Yeah, just like the Beatles. Uh, right, yeah, okay.

[ShanniC]

Cool! Now how about you "sponsor" universal healthcare!

[ohmercy]

and the Bill of Rights!

[FanofPaine]

You can sponsor those things once you are elected president. It's not like he's anti-universal healthcare. He's gotta get the votes first.

[WorkingClass]

Somebody tell him not to do this. The fans ain't gonna like it. Not kidding.

[LeftLeanWing]

......



How can you Boo a car ?

But you may have a point ........

[Meggie]

unless the car says it's ok to vote for the white half, I'm not sure of the value here.
I grew up way back with all kinds of racing and one summer about 25 years ago my husband and I attended every NASCAR winston cup race on the schedule. these people will not vote for Obama no matter what. they'll starve jobless and die with no health care before they do. it's disgusting, I know, but it's true.

[NASCARLiberal]

This is the most absurd posting I've seen. NASCAR --- 25 years ago --- is NOT remotely related to what it is today. Fan base has grown into the millions, and represents ALL genders, racial backgrounds, educational and economic diversity ... you make it sound like po' white trash. Meggie, are you Howard Dean in drag!?