Times photo: Dirk Shadd] Momentum Sales and Marketing's bracelets appear in the opposite of conventional shades: GOP bands are blue; Democrats' are red.
Posted on 09/22/2004 6:30:09 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Forget signs and bumper stickers. A Safety Harbor company wants you to wear your presidential preference.
Times photo: Dirk Shadd] Momentum Sales and Marketing's bracelets appear in the opposite of conventional shades: GOP bands are blue; Democrats' are red.
When David Colangelo spotted the yellow LiveStrong band dangling from John Kerry's wrist, he didn't think cancer or Lance Armstrong.
He saw a business opportunity.
Five weeks later, Colangelo and his two associates at Momentum Sales and Marketing in Safety Harbor are rolling out their own version of the silicon bracelets just in time for the final stretch of the presidential race.
Intended to raise political awareness, as well as some quick cash, Momentum's wristbands come in blue for Bush-Cheney; red for Kerry-Edwards.
Jim Wetzel, Momentum's president, is aware that this color scheme is the opposite of that traditionally used by the major TV networks to indicate which party wins a state, but he doesn't care.
"This is not about the states, it's about the individual's vote," he said.
Momentum even offers instructions for people willing to wear their politics just below their sleeves. "Right hand only," is embossed inside the Republican band; "Left hand only" inside the Democratic version.
Since Momentum routinely does contract manufacturing overseas, the men knew how to get boxloads of wristbands molded and shipped by FedEx air within weeks. (Both parties will take the hit on offshoring with this product, which has "Made in China" stamped on the inside.)
Momentum's initial shipment of 1,000 blue bands arrived in time to be handed out for free at the Republican National Convention in New York last month. A second shipment arrived Tuesday with both blue and red versions. Momentum's general manager, Ken Judd, was hoping to pass out a few at John Edwards' appearance in Tampa Tuesday night.
The bands will be available only through the company's Web site (www.momentumsm.com) at $20 for a minimum order of 10. The men said they're willing to donate $1 a band to a nonpartisan charity that benefits U.S. soldiers, but they have not yet selected a group.
About 400 Bush wristbands already have been sold, based on buzz created at the convention. Among the orders: 260 for the College Republicans at the University of Florida. Hunter Williams, chairman of the UF club, said the wristbands' similarity to Armstrong's yellow bands is a plus.
"When people see a blue one, it piques their interest," said Williams, who said his group regularly attracts about 150 people to weekly meetings. "It's another level of visibility we can add for our campaign."
Colangelo, who until recently considered himself apolitical, says neither political party will receive a donation from his sales. But he pitches his election-year gimmick as more than just a way to make a fast buck. He thinks lots of Americans are like him: jolted out of their political complacency by the 2000 election.
Momentum's initial shipment of 1,000 blue bands arrived in time to be handed out for free at the Republican National Convention in New York last month. A second shipment arrived Tuesday with both blue and red versions. Momentum's general manager, Ken Judd, was hoping to pass out a few at John Edwards' appearance in Tampa Tuesday night.
"I'm 42 and I've never voted in my life," Colangelo said. "But the race was so tight in 2000, I've registered, and I'll be voting for the first time. Every vote does count."
While he declines to say what color wristband he'll be wearing, Colangelo gives a hint of how he thinks the election will play out through his ordering decisions.
"We're hedging our bets," he said. "But we have more Bush."
Kris Hundley can be reached at hundley@sptimes.com or 727 892-2996.
Kerry and his yellow LiveStrong band.
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites) makes a point as his running mate, vice presidential nominee John Edwards (news - web sites), listens during a rally for affordable healthcare, in Orlando, Florida September 21, 2004. REUTERS/Joe Skipper US ELECTION
Yellow (Metrosexual) and Blue (Al Gore Dems) make Green (A FREAKING COMMIE!)
That about sums up Kerry.
I'm OK. Really.
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites) smiles as he listens to a question during a news conference in Jacksonville, Florida September 21, 2004. It was Senator Kerry's first news conference in over a month REUTERS/Brian Snyder US ELECTION
LMAO!!
RED, BLUE, and YELLOW FASHION QUIZ. Which are you? LOL!
Never thought I'd be better red...LOL.
WHAT?? WHAT?
You're trying to deny you really wanna wear yellow and be METROSEXUAL? LOL!
He's a real goof ball. Pity for his parents that created him.
(NO disrespect meant towards Lance Armstrong and his yellow bands that Kerry is wearing it for.)
Are you old enought to remember that old saying, better red than dead? :) I am, that's what I was talking about.
Another poll goes for Bush.
Er...that was better dead than red.
I remember.
The cultural indicators, which I think are better than any polling, are definitely going 43's way.
I know! Although, I faintly recall the "better red than dead" thing. If it was before the 1980s, I will probably not recall too much.
So? You want to try the yellow band? Hehe!
You just wait! They'll have RED, BLUE, and YELLOW DOG COLLARS and LEASHES next. LOL!
I'm into red. Big time :)
I think I PREFER Green, thank you very much...
That too
Ha Ha HA
NOPE! That doesn't count in John Kerry's METROSEXUAL WORLD. Stick with the gameplan. LOL!
Yes! MILITARY GREEN IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF GREEN. Well, outside of MOOLAH!! LOL!
With the peaceniks I knew it was one way, with the folks who despised communism it was the other. Sigh. But I like red. My car is red, too :)
Actually, blue is for the incumbent party. It's not for a specific party.
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