Aiming Left to Those Who Think Right

For whatever reason, NASCAR has a huge following.

I don't get it, but in a time where gas prices are soaring towards and over four dollars a gallon, watching a "sport" where 50 guys take left turns 300 times around a mile-long oval still has a market.

The latest racing news, not involving Danica Patrick, came from the political scene.

Earlier this week, BAM Racing gave sponsorship offers for three presidential candidates on Ken Schrader's number 49 car. Obviously the two major hopefuls, John McCain and Barack Obama, and one third-party hopeful.

There can be many ways to describe NASCAR fans. One of them isn't democrat or left-leaning.

Obama's campaign decided not to take BAM racing's offer.

Why not? Aren't you suppose to aim towards markets who don't typically don't see your point of view.

I understand that you should market to an audience, but a little too much and you end up preaching to the choir. Nothing wrong with trying new things.

Sure, Schrader's car isn't exactly "American made" in Toyota and the team has given up to $5 thousand to different republican candidates over the last election. But they offered the deal to Obama's campaign.

In spite of that, Nascar is still the number one spectator *ahem* sport in the nation. Obama should try to reach out to another audience. The only downside would be Obama's campaign lost money and fail to win the ever-growing "Nascar Dad" vote.

The potential upside is much higher. Even if Obama was able to steal a few votes from the "Nascar Dads," it would be worth it in a close political race.

By no means do I think this sponsorship, probably no bigger than a cardboard cereal top on a car, is going to even put Obama 'over-the-top' and win the ever-so-important demographic, but if you can steal a few votes by getting your name out there. Why not?

If the McCain campaign really attacks Obama for a non-american car, something tells me McCain's priorities may be a little misplaced.

However, it is a risk worth taking in the Obama front. Try to steal a few votes from the people that only think about the "left" as the next turn up ahead.

You may steal a little votes from the NASCAR dads, but the buzz around the political world and the press' attention would be worth it.