Obama targets sports fans

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is trying to woo sports fans to his side, observers say.

The Boston Globe noted Sunday that although Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin dropped the ceremonial first puck at the Philadelphia Flyers' season opener, the last ad before the game was broadcast on Comcast Sports Net there was a 60-second spot about Democrat Barack Obama's patriotism.

On Wednesday, Obama will delay the start of the possible World Series Game 6 to air a 30-minute infomercial, which is arguably his most aggressive pitch through sports media.

"Obama is targeting so much sports programming because it trends very much to younger white males, which has been a reliable Republican bloc but is also very much an independent voting bloc," said Evan Tracey of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks political advertising.

Tracey said Obama is targeting Republican presidential nominee John McCain's "strength" by targeting young white males.

In addition to targeting sports fans, Obama has bought image space in video games and has his own satellite-television channel.