With a weekend of football to remind us of what is truly important, it’s worth a moment to think about those places where America’s national pastime and politics overlap. We all remember John Kerry’s “Lambert Field” reference in Green Bay, Wisconsin. That gaffe alone was enough to disqualify him from the presidency. But he went one better, telling an audience in Madison that he couldn’t wait to get a brat after his speech. That wouldn’t have been a problem, except that he pronounced it the same way you would if you were talking about your neighbor’s kid, not as a word that rhymes with hot. Then there is Steve Largent, former congressman and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, Representative Heath Shuler, former gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann, and so on. All of this thinking about football and politics got me wondering: What is the best way for a company or an individual to generate instant, worldwide publicity? The Super Bowl, of course. This year, companies are spending nearly $3 million for a thirty-second television ad. This could help John McCain. Why? The Super Bowl takes place on February 3 this year, in his home state of Arizona, just two days before the 22-state primary on February 5. (Most journalists are calling it “Super Duper Tuesday.” Sorry, I won’t do it. That is unbelievably lame.) Right now, McCain plans to leave Florida after the primary there on January 29 and embark on a campaign tour that would take him to all 22 states holding primaries on February 5. (The plans are not finalized, as the logistics of such a journey could prove impossible.) McCain advisers say they have not yet planned an appearance at the Super Bowl – but they are intrigued by the possibilities.
