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Obama Considers Sponsoring Sprint Cup Car in NASCAR Race
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ShareJuly 11, 2008 6:27 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Presidential gentlemen, start your engines! Sen. Barack Obama is considering sponsoring a race car in a forthcoming NASCAR series.
"We get a lot of good ideas every day but there are no such agreements in place at this time," Obama spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters -- not exactly stopping the news as first reported by Sports Illustrated in its tracks.
In an article on their website, SI.com reported "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."
Obama, D-Ill., opted out of public financing in the general election campaign -- breaking a campaign pledge allowing the presumptive Democratic nominee to raise an unlimited amount of cash in his battle for the White House against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
The Illinois Senator's fundraisers boldy predicted he could raise $100 million dollars in June but fell far short raising a respectable $30 million -- $8 million more than McCain, who had his best month of fundraising to-date, hauling in $22 million.
According to SI.com, a July 23 press conference is scheduled to reveal the details of the arrangement that will put Obama and "racing sources claim one of the options being considered would allow individual campaign donors to get their name on the race car for as little as $100."
No word yet on whether McCain will respond in kind -- making the Pocono series truly the first race of a tight turning campaign.
But is Obama wasting his time trying to steal McCain support from hard core NASCAR fans? Sprint Cup race driver Jimmie Johnson told U.S. News & World Report as much. "I think our core fan base being strong Republicans like they are, that's going to be the first choice. I also think his credits in history and what he's done for our country, certainly for our country, a lot of those things will be fully noticed by our fan base," says Johnson.
Not surprisingly, RNC spokesman Alex Conant agrees. "Barack Obama’s words – whether they’re at a San Francisco fundraiser or on the hood of a car – will not get him to Victory Lane.".
Obama wouldn't be the first Dem to pull it off. Let's not forget that back in 2001, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner sponsored a car at a NASCAR race with historic results.
UPDATE: Just before midnight, Obama campaign spokesperson Jen Psaki tells ABC News' Sunlen Miller: "The Obama campaign will not be sponsoring a car in the Sprint Cup series, though we continue to look for ways to reach out to voters and convey Senator Obama's message of change."ABC News' Jake Tapper contributed to this report.
July 11, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (110)
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one last comment--the race is about to start--putting his name on a Toyota will get lots of vote here in Michigan--for McCain--dumb
Posted by: Pax | Jul 11, 2008 8:00:04 PM
Is he serious? Won't this be seen as a really lame attempt to win over red states? Certainly won't reap much benefit from it, right?
Posted by: matt | Jul 11, 2008 8:06:41 PM
Ok, please tell me Obama is just showing us his comedic side. I can think of 10 things off the top of my head that would serve his campaign better, while raising money.
Posted by: Bea | Jul 11, 2008 8:06:50 PM
This guy is ONLY about games and gimmicks. Can anyone be serious in thinking this is a candidate for president? This is laughable, and the party establishment now realizes this, but it is far too late.
Posted by: benvictor | Jul 11, 2008 8:07:56 PM
Pax, reread the SI story (Sports Illustrated?)? I never read it to begin with. Just never heard of it before. You got to admit this is pretty transparent - even comical.
Posted by: LongT | Jul 11, 2008 8:12:37 PM
I have to laugh when I think about all those lower and middle class supporters who scraped together $10 and $20 for this guy. At least you'll know your money is well spent.
Posted by: bb | Jul 11, 2008 8:17:17 PM
LOl...I think Nascar is a waste of gas, but I think even I would buy tickets for it. I'd like to toss beer bottles at his car even though I don't even drink. I don't think Obama the dummy has thought things through again. I realize he wants to sponsor the car in Pennsylvannia in a dumb attempt to try to buy votes again, but has he noticed the rednecks that cling to their religion and guns that tend to go these things and what they do to drivers they don't like? Perhaps he should ask Jeff Gordon.
Posted by: chattyway | Jul 11, 2008 8:29:07 PM
This is ridiculous.. I am in disbelief over obama (he is desperate) and turning this into a joke at best. HE WON'T AGREE TO PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES TO DISCUSS SERIOUS ISSUES WITH JOHN MCCAIN... but he will play race games? How absolutely pathetic.
I am jumping party lines, will vote heart and soul for John McCain.
Democrats are losers.
Posted by: ML | Jul 11, 2008 8:33:22 PM
Obama's driver is already out of this weeks race.........and sure to be out early in the August 3rd.
Posted by: chattyway | Jul 11, 2008 8:33:50 PM
Oh, but wait.. in a few weeks he will regret his decision.
Posted by: ML | Jul 11, 2008 8:34:48 PM
Obama will really fit right in. Just like he would if Obama went hunting.
Posted by: ralph | Jul 11, 2008 8:39:10 PM
Will the Obama girls show up
Posted by: pooh rank | Jul 11, 2008 8:41:47 PM
read more about this...and find out who he would sponsor:
Posted by: tom abrahams | Jul 11, 2008 9:00:53 PM
Hey everybody, I have it on good authority that Barack has watched at least two NASCAR races before.
Posted by: LongT | Jul 11, 2008 9:02:03 PM
This is a hoot!
Barack "gorebal warming kool-aid drinker" Obama is going to get into Cup racing. That clown probably thinks they run ethonal, have catylic converters to meet emissions, are 'green' and only make the same horsepower as their streetable versions. He has no clue that they have zero emissions, burn Sinoco race fuel and make gobs of horsepower and consume gallons upon gallons of that fuel. I love it!
It would be oh so sweet if of the second green lap, someone puts that car in the wall on turn 4. Got to let them get up to racing speed first so it totals the car.
It would be even cooler if Obama was driving. He's young enough and thinks his stuff doesn't stink. Get behind the wheel and 'prove' your worth! Then wreck him!
Posted by: pander monkey | Jul 11, 2008 9:06:47 PM
i have tryed to post a comment and you never post it..just let me say i thank the dim.party has lost it,,this has been a disgrace to usa---bill and hillary go you are the best...mccane 08
Posted by: sue | Jul 11, 2008 9:14:30 PM
Maybe Obama should sponsor a golf tournament. Maybe he can bring all those rich republicans over to the democratic side. Nascar isn't a Real Sport anyway.
Posted by: pt | Jul 11, 2008 9:19:51 PM
All of those small so call
donors must really like to see how he is spending the money
Posted by: William Moore Plano Texas | Jul 11, 2008 9:21:46 PM
And when Car # 49 loses the race, how on earth will he fit that darn race car under that crowded bus of his???
Posted by: Lee | Jul 11, 2008 9:22:53 PM
Barack obama is certainly not NASCAR material. Lol.
Posted by: JULIE | Jul 11, 2008 9:26:19 PM
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