Contrary to earlier reports, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has declined to sponsor a NASCAR team. A BAM Racing spokesman told the AP that late last week, 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." Early reports Friday said a deal had been signed, but Obama spokesman Bill Burton now tells the AP, "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."

When the possibility of an Obama-sponsored car was first reported, CNN wrote, "If Obama decides to do it, he will get great media attention for entering the world of NASCAR, and not just from the pack of political journalists following the race -- that is, the race for the White House. He'd also get attention from sports reporters and commentators who cover the race -- that is, auto racing. It's not a bad way to reach out to voters who may not be following the campaign daily."

However, Newsweek noted, "with the stock-car stereotype skewing male, Southern, rural, blue collar and Republican, it's traditionally considered GOP terrain." 

That may not have been what drove Obama away from the proposal.

Though all the cars do turn left, the AP speculates, "BAM's choice of drivers and car brands might have been a little too sticky politically for the Obama camp." BAM races Toyota Camrys. It's possible that Obama's people didn't want their candidate's name plastered on the side of a foreign car during a time when the U.S. auto industry is struggling, and shedding jobs. The driver may have also raised red flags -- the car would have been driven by NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, who has a long record of contributions to Republican candidates. 

Not to be outdone, the campaign of Republican candidate John McCain has already inked a racing deal. The Los Angeles Times reports that the candidate's wife, Cindy McCain, will ride in the pace car at the upcoming Firestone 200 IndyCar race. The Times comments, "To the extent that open-wheel racing appeals to the wine-and-brie set, this might be regarded as a base-broadening effort akin to Obama's reaching out to NASCAR's working-class whites."

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