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Obama's BlackBerry Passion Worth $50M

But Prez-elect advertises obsession for free

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 9, 2009 9:35 AM CST
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(Newser) – Barack Obama won't nab any cash for his frequent endorsement of his beloved BlackBerry—but if he weren’t a public servant, his thumbs-up could be worth as much as $50 million, the New York Times reports. “This would be almost the biggest endorsement deal in the history of endorsements,” said one marketing expert. “The most powerful man in the country is saying, basically, I can’t live without mine,” said another.

“You always want the celebrity to be a good fit with your brand, and is anybody considered a better communicator right now than Barack Obama, or a better networker?” asked an ad exec. The gadget is doing its part for the president-elect, too: His love for it shows he’s a regular guy, “and it positions him as a next-generation politician,” the executive added.

In this July 7, 2008, photo, Sen. Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry in St. Louis.
In this July 7, 2008, photo, Sen. Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry in St. Louis.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
President-elect Barack Obama, wearing a Chicago White Sox baseball cap and carrying his Blackberry, leaves the University of Chicago Lab School after playing basketball, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008.
President-elect Barack Obama, wearing a Chicago White Sox baseball cap and carrying his Blackberry, leaves the University of Chicago Lab School after playing basketball, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Obama discusses the challenge of living without a BlackBerry.   (msnbc)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Guest
Jan 11, 2009 2:42 AM CST
This story has nothing to do with Bush. Blackberry will want nothing to do with Obama in a few months, he makes the product look bad.
Reader33968906
Jan 10, 2009 10:06 PM CST
I wonder why G W Bush hasn't commented on his? Oh..I forgot. He's not into things technological. He even has to have staff read newspapers for him. But then if I were also functionally illiterate, I'd probably do the same thing
Mr.C
Jan 8, 2009 11:13 PM CST
:-)

'I'm still clinging to my BlackBerry'
New York Times

Let him keep the gadget
CNN

 
Barack Obama • advertising • Research In Motion • marketing • BlackBerry

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