Barack Obama's a Winning Name

[bigtree]

Politicians change their names to Barack Obama

September 18, 2008 - 9:04AM

In an extreme case of Obama-mania, six politicians in Brazil have changed their names to "Barack Obama" in the hope it will help them attract more votes in upcoming local elections.

The candidates hope to capitalise on the popularity of the US senator, who is bidding to become the first black US president after elections in November.

Due to a quirky Brazilian law, candidates may run under the name of their choice, The Guardian said.

As a result, at least six Brazilian politicians have officially renamed themselves "Barack Obama" in the hope of getting an edge on their rivals in next month's local elections.


"Few countries have embraced the idea of the US's first black president as enthusiastically as Brazil, a country with one of the largest Afro-descendant populations on Earth yet where black faces remain a minority in politics," The Guardian wrote.


http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/why-brazils-politicians-change-their-names/2008/09/18/1221330977214.html

[Kerrytravelers]

1. I never heard of anyone changing their name to John McCain, Sarah Palin or... gulp... George W Bush.

I think the Brazillians are on to something.

I wonder if it will garner a "brazillian" votes. (No, I won't include the brazillian joke. :) )

[Rocknrule]

2. I heard that * might make people stop naming their kids George

just like "Lolita" effectively killed that name for girls because it was essentially a pro-pedophilia book