Report: Obama plans on sponsoring NASCAR driver
Apparently aiming for blue-collar white voters he had trouble attracting during the Democratic primary campaign, presidential candidate Barack Obama is reportedly in discussions to sponsor a driver in an upcoming NASCAR race.
SportsIllustrated.com's Tom Bowles has the scoop on the first politician's foray into the fastest growing sport in the US.
SI.com has learned that for the first time in history, a major presidential candidate may sponsor a race car in NASCAR's premier series. According to sources, Barack Obama's campaign is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's No. 49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3. Details of the agreement are expected to be worked out over the coming days.
A BAM spokesperson has revealed the team will hold a press conference July 23 in Miami to reveal the partnership, currently a proposed one-race deal with an option to continue. Obama will be at the briefing, which will be tied to the "Get Out The Vote" campaign message he spread throughout the 2008 primary season.
An Obama campaign spokeswoman did not immediately return RAW STORY's request for comment.
Bowles says one sponsorship option would give Obama supporters a chance to have their names printed on the race car in exchange for donations as little as $100. Such a move would seem to coincide with Obama's populist campaign themes and might encourage more giving from the army of small dollar donors who already have helped the Illinois senator shatter fundraising records.
While so-called "NASCAR Dads" were seen as a key demographic four years ago, no campaign has made such a direct foray to communicate with fans in a forum where they are more used to seeing advertisements for alcohol or energy drinks.
In 2004, NASCAR drive Kirk Shelmerdine placed his own Bush/Cheney decal on his car, although the ad space was not purchased by the campaign. He was later admonished by the FEC for the display.
Should the deal come off with BAM Racing's car No. 49, it would mark the first time a major US presidential candidate has been a primary sponsor on a vehicle in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) series.
Ken Schrader would drive the Toyota-powered entry at Pocono in a state thought to be a battleground for US electoral college votes in November's election between Obama and Republican rival John McCain.
The team has raced only once since March 30 in Martinsville for lack of sponsorship money and the car must qualify at Pocono on speed. BAM Racing has only six top-10 showings in 167 starts since 2002.
With wire reports
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