Gordon Smith’s TV Spot (suspiciously duck green and yellow)

Alright, now that I have your attention. No, I’m not going to give any endorsements here. I know how things can turn if I bring up politics. However, this article I came across was just to weird to me to leave it alone.

Gordon Smith who is a Republican Senator from Oregon has recently started his campaign for re-election. I don’t know anything about Smith other than the fact that he is a Republican that somehow got elected in Oregon. So what caught my eye about this campaign, when I don’t even live in Oregon anymore?

Smith, it appears, is campaigning hard for the Oregon Duck fan votes. Look at the image above and to the right. The above image which has a simple logo of Smith’s may catch some people as having a very familiar font. Yes, it’s the exact same font as the Oregon Ducks have been using for a few years. Then in a screen-shot from his tv spot, Smith uses the appealing to hippie colors of green and yellow.

Gordon Smith’s intersting choice in a font (and colors)

It seems very strange to me that a politician running for office in Oregon would choose to so closely tie himself (at least in appearance) to one of the three major sports teams and two major universities in Oregon. Does he figure he has the more right leaning (not by much) Oregon State vote? Does his campaign manager figure this will be a good way to get a republican voted for by the heavy left leaning Univeristy of Oregon fans, alum, and students? Also, from his wikipedia entry, I learned he is a BYU alum. Not long ago BYU and Oregon almost got into a little bit of a street fight in Las Vegas after Oregon taking exception to BYU performing the Haka at their own event.

What do you guys think? Is this going to work? Will it eliminate Beaver fans (like me, if I were an Oregon voter)? Is it just a play for the Oregon fans, or what?

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