The Roy Williams Effect?

20.03.2008

Noam has a smart post over on the Stump noting the warm welcome Obama received from some Philly sports talk hosts when he called into their program the other day. I think this might be part of a larger "sports talk" strategy that the Obama campaign is undertaking. This morning he called in to a North Carolina sports talk station and won over the hosts--and maybe the listening audience--by picking the Heels to win the NCAA tournament. Let's see if people remember that when they go to the polls for the North Carolina primary on May 6.

Update: Uh oh, I see below from Josh that Obama told the NYT that his Final Four picks are North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, and Pittsburgh. But he told the sports talk station in North Carolina that he was picking Stanford over Pitt to come out of the South region. Is the Pitt pick he gave to the Times a blatant pander to Pennsylvania voters? Was he for Pitt before he was against them?

--Jason Zengerle

Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:46 PM with 6 comment(s)

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adamvaught said:

The Senator from Illinois is picking North Carolina? After that mugging UNC gave our Illini a few years ago. Does this mean Obama is now soft on crime?

March 20, 2008 2:24 PM

Crock1701 said:

So, does this mean Obama's going to tell the Democrats he's going to be a Democrat for life, his last press conference will be when he retires, then leave to be the new leader of the Labour Party?

Does it mean Obama can't win the Presidency except with someone else's campaign team?

March 20, 2008 2:25 PM

tnmats said:

So what is he trying to do, loose all the NC State, Wake Forest, and East Carolina voters? We won't count Dook since their grads are from or live in NJ. As an NCSU alum I have to rethink my support of Obama now...

March 20, 2008 2:53 PM

Onnword said:

Wow, way to pick up on possible sports-constituent pandering. But he possibly has Pittsburgh beating Memphis and Stanford beating Texas? Maybe it's that Barack tends to pick the underdog or picking the underdog won't make you too many enemies. You probably need John Judis to pick apart the complex psychology at work. Nonetheless, I think it's ridiculous that even Bob Knight has Pittsburgh going to the Final Four. Maybe they know something I don't.

March 20, 2008 4:28 PM

wildboy said:

Pitt's such an obvious pander. But if he really knew where his bread was buttered, Obama would have at least St. Joe's or Temple in the Sweet Sixteen.

March 20, 2008 4:40 PM

csmiller said:

I'd like to see him call into WEEI in Boston. The morning hosts (Dennis & Callahan) are a couple of the biggest knuckle-dragging, right wing blowhard bigots on the air. I doubt they'd even take his call.

March 21, 2008 11:33 AM