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.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...bama/index.html

I'm not suprised to see he is sponsoring a team running a Japanese nameplate car. Since he has been endorsed by the UAW I wonder how they feel about his choice. Many of the other teams could use his sponsorship dollars.

Obama is endorsed by the UAW.

I suppose it would be better if he was sponsoring a Ford Fusion; made in Hermiso, Mexico (by non-union workers), or a Dodge Charger made in Ontario, or a Chevy Impala made in Oshawa... none are made in America.

Or that Toyota.. Made in the USA; in Georgetown, KY or Lafayette, IN

spoken well, Patrick, do you have a driver for that car yet?

It is still a JAPANESE company. GM, and I think Ford, build cars in China and sell them there so are they a Chinese company? No, they are an AMERICAN company.

the japenese are building plants over here and gm & ford are closing plants makes you sick dont it

Correction, they are ASSEMBLED in Oshawa. Parts are made and come from all over and the engineering is done in the USA.

No sense building them if no one is going to buy them. Times are changing fast.
We are expecting some news next week.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080711/tbs...as-7318940.html

Which is exactly what you could say about the Camry.. well.. except the assembled part, the Camry is actually assembled in the US.

And while GM/Ford/Chrysler might be "based in America" they are public companies.. and the profits go to the shareholders.. who can and are a little bit of everyone who are everywhere.

The US didn't become the greatest country in the world by shying away from competition.. don't like Toyota.. beat their ass. Don't cry because they are beating yours.

Not crying. They are hurting too. Maybe not as much but GM is doing well everywhere except the USA. The chinese middle class is beginning to emerge and soon their cheap labor won't be so cheap. And then neither will the Wal Mart.

GM is not shying away, it is evolving, and will be for awhile.

Watch Ted Koppels special on the Discovery channel.
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/koppel/koppel.html

what happens to the US economy after we've outsourced all the manufacturing jobs.. and everyone is in low pay type jobs.. and then the low cost goods people are surviving on (wal=mart stuff) go away because of the chinese middle class surge ?

I was just on the nascar website and it said that Bam made an offer to Obama but he refused.

Chrysler is not a public company and Toyota is.

Then we're screwed. I'm going to happy hour.

They refused because the BAM car more than likely won't even make the show.

...and that is why toyota is going to take over the world in automaking.

There arent american and japanese and german automakers anymore, they are all global. You have to compete globally, the cost to compete globally in the USA is very high, our health care alone is way higher for a company to support. So don't expect the american nameplates to build more cars in the USA if we sell more, it just less profitable. The USA is just not a competitive labor market anymore.

Nothing is totally "made in America". I work inside the Lansing Delta Township plant where the new Acadia's, Outlooks, and Enclaves are assembled. Even though these vehicles are assembled here, 70% of the parts come from Mexico or Canada. The "made in America" brand has taken on a whole new meaning in my eyes. I think that companies like GM, Ford, etc..... should change there products to say "assembled in America", its almost like false advertising if you ask me.

Here's my question.

Since when would a democrat endorse motorsports, that's a republican's job. At least that's the impression I've got.