Presidential Candidates Court Wal-Mart Shoppers

Copyright © 2008 National Public Radio®. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

MELISSA BLOCK, host:

One other note about Wal-Mart and its virtual space on the company's website today tucked between ads for sanitary pads and a new CD from the rock group AC/DC, there on the website is a link to two online videos. Wal-Mart invited John McCain and Barack Obama to speak directly to its millions of shoppers. The McCain video is a biographical sketch with a narrator and a sweeping soundtrack.

(Soundbite of a McCain video)

Unidentified Man: He staked out a name for himself as a commonsense conservative, a faith in the American people's ability to chart their own course, committed to protect the American people. A ferocious opponent of pork barrel spending and would do most anything to keep taxes low, keep our money in our pockets.

BLOCK: Barack Obama's video is simpler, just the candidate sitting in front of a white wall and addressing the camera directly. Obama lists the things he says we need to do to keep the promise of America alive.

(Soundbite of a Barack Obama video)

Senator BARACK OBAMA (Democratic Presidential Candidate): Allow our workers to organize for fair wages, health care and basic on the job safety, the very benefits that let them raise a family. Protect pensions ahead of CEO bonuses and strengthen social security for future generations. Keep the promise of affordable accessible health care for every single American. And guarantee every child a world class education, so they can compete in the global economy.

BLOCK: And if neither video wins you over, you can always vote with your wallet and buy that new AC/DC record.

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