Presidential candidate Obama to sponsor Cup car at Pocono race

[Baclava]

Source: SI

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.

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.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/tom_bowles/07/11/obama/index.html

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Go Obama!

[John Q. Citizen]

1. This is good!

[liberal1973]

29. I agree

I have no problem with Obama reaching out to other people. I used to be a fan of Nascar when Earnhardt raced.

[John Q. Citizen]

30. I'm not a fan, but a lot of people are. And it beats the hell out of trying to identify

by suggesting putting the 10 commandments into the classroom or some crap like that.

[Renew Deal]

2. I have something to do that weekend.

I would love to see this. Who is the driver? The car still has to qualify for the race.

[liberal N proud]

3. Going after the GOP coveted NASCAR vote

Will they embrace it?

[frog92969]

8. NASCAR only turns left

Maybe this is a good sign?

[liberal N proud]

14. Good one

[ben_meyers]

4. He just loss the DU anti-Nascar vote

Both of them.

[Indenturedebtor]

20. Nah I'm anti-Nascar and I think this is a smart move

I'm not against people who watch Nascar. Though I hope they all grow a third eye from all of the pollutants ;)

[Blue_Tires]

5. man....at least do Indycar if you want to sponsor something...

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. His intelligence and ability to think outside the box....

give me hope.

[BlueJessamine]

9. Go Obama!!

[Vinca]

7. That is an amazingly smart move. He never ceases to surprise. nt

[Myrina]

10. Wow, this is a horribly bad idea.

A racist redneck will be a racist redneck until they die, no matter how many black men get into NASCAR.

Waste of money and time, IMO.

[TommyO]

11. So, all NASCAR fans are racist rednecks?

Thank you for your asinine stereotyping.

[rox63]

12. Not all NASCAR fans are racist rednecks

I'm not a NASCAR fan myself. But I know someone who is a liberal and a NASCAR fan.

[Taverner]

18. Exactly - I know a lot of them

Granted, I could never understand the fascination with turning left - but some people question my love of the theramin.

But yeah - NASCAR fans are like any other sports fan. There are Liberals, Conservatives, and a bunch who just don't give a rat's ass.

[Maine-ah]

34. Maine is blue

most people up here watch and enjoy NASCAR:hi:

[Virginia Dare]

23. He's bringing it on to the GOP..

he's not sitting back and waiting for them. I like it, and I actually think as far as getting as much bang as you can for your advertising buck, it's a smart move.

[datadiva]

25. Wow, know many racist rednecks, do ya?

I've been a fan of turning left my whole life. I'm liberal, vote democratic and support Barack Obama. Also a fan of football, hockey, basketball, etc. I know a lot of Nascar fans and the majority of them are not racist rednecks.

[DUlover2909]

27. Some racist rednecks do change before they die. I''ve seen it happen.

[Gman]

13. These guys are innovative in how they're running this campaign

and doing a lot of new things.

Of course, having the money is what makes it possible.

[Virginia Dare]

22. I'm starting to think this is the most tntelligently run campaign..

in a VERY long time. :kick:

[Taverner]

15. RE: The NASCAR Myth

Ya know, every single NASCAR fan I've met has been at least Center Left, if not outright Left.

[mrs_p]

24. actually,

that has been my experience too. could it be more a regional thing, instead?? i'm from the pacific northwest and it doesn't seem to be a huge sport out there (though they were trying to put a track out on the olympic peninsula that didn't quite catch on)

[World Citizen]

16. GREAT!!!

Now McSame will have to out and sponsor a Bob Dylan concert.

[frylock]

17. that is AWESOME!!!

I suggested the same thing in 2004. Even painted up some models and sent pics to the Kerry people. I received a form letter for my effort.

[Mopar151]

28. Word up

Note to the campaign - get some Wendell Scott t-shirts for the boss - the karma is excellent......

[Fumesucker]

19. Bookmarking for the next NASCAR bashing thread in GD

I'm not a fan but I'm sick of the bigoted ignorance being put forth on the current NASCAR thread in GD.

This ought to take a bit of the wind out of their sails.

[madrchsod]

21. give them a shout out....

http://www.bamracing.com/

[Mopar151]

26. Schrader drivin?

One of the nicest guys anywhere - Dick Berrgren calls him "the Willie Nelson of Racing".:toast:

And, FWIW, regarding Obama, NASCAR, and common ground ; Several of the big names (the Petty's, Tony Stewart, SMI) put MILLIONS of their own money into charities, primarily for sick kids - universal healthcare is going to resonate very well with these folks!

[Grinchie]

31. With the FISA vote and now this, It's clear that Obama doesn't need any more of my contributions.

Two stupid mistakes in one week, thats not a good sign.

There are more effective ways to get attention, like standing up for impeachment and the law.

[deadmessengers]

32. According to the website, the article is wrong

They use some craptactular Flash display to make sure you can't cut and paste, but according to them, the SI article was "premature" and Obama will NOT be sponsoring a car, at BAM Racing's request.

[ChazII]

33. Found this link,

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/07/11/2008-07-11_barack_obama_nixes_deal_to_sponsor_car_i.html

[CANDO]

35. Didn't they just nix this whole deal two days ago?

If it is back on again, I can see where he'd go for a race in PA vs. somewhere in the redneck deep south.