Pizza Hut Wants to Punk Presidential Debate as a Marketing Stunt

Will Pizza Hut be the final nail/pizza roll in the coffin of American democracy? Possibly, maybe. The pizza chain is offering "free" pizza for life (kind of, see below) to anyone who asks, on air, whether the candidates prefer sausage or pepperoni at the town hall presidential debate on October 16. So, how likely is it that someone will actually manage to ask the question?

Not very: according to the Commission on Presidential Debates, participants in the debate are "undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization." As in, people who are heavily vetted for their likelihood to ask dumbass questions about pizza. That said, a good number of attendees will apparently be college students at Hofstra University, where the debate will be held, so who knows. Either way, if someone did manage to ask, they'd have to convincingly prepare a fake question to ask and then switch at the last minute.

Should someone manage to squeak out either the words "sausage or pepperoni" or "pepperoni or sausage" on live television, Pizza Hut will give them the equivalent of one free pizza every week for 30 years. That is, they'll cut them a check for $15,600 (which the winner will pay taxes on). That sounds a lot like you win a check for $15,600 instead of pizza for the rest of your life? But okay. No word on what happens if either Mitt Romney or President Obama asks the question of the other candidate. Below, a press release from Pizza Hut:

Pepperoni or Sausage? Pizza Hut to Reward Free Pizza for Life to Anyone Who Asks This Question During Oct. 16 Town Hall Debate

Common question debated in millions of American households every night has opportunity to be addressed, courtesy of The Pizza Party

DALLAS, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Pizza Party may not have been invited to participate in the political debates thus far, but that doesn't mean the tastiest party in the race will be kept quiet come Oct. 16.

To assure America that the real issues being debated in households across the country every night aren't sidestepped by the candidates any longer, The Pizza Party is offering free pizza for life* to an official attendee who asks either of the participants the age-old burning question - Sausage or Pepperoni? - during the live telecast town hall format presidential debate on Oct. 16 at Hofstra University.

Pizza Hut, which last week announced the long overdue formation of The Pizza Party and introduced its crowd-pleasing Big Dinner Box as the Party's candidate, will reward the free pizza should the question get asked. Fans of The Pizza Party, and frankly, who isn't, are encouraged to register and show their support at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty. Visitors receive free Stuffed Pizza Rollers with their next online order just for signing up. Fans are also encouraged to use the hashtag #ThePizzaParty on debate night in order to further push for this question to get asked of either of the candidates.

"We recognize there are a lot of serious issues to be debated, but we also know a lot less serious - but no less important - ones are being discussed every night inside houses across the country," said Kurt Kane, CMO, Pizza Hut. "So for the candidates to be able to show that they're in tune with all the issues, we felt a pizza-related question on behalf of The Pizza Party was very appropriate for a town hall debate."

Along with empowering America through the debate, The Pizza Party is also asking for America's help in selecting the running mate for the Big Dinner Box. Ballots will open at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty this Thursday, Oct. 11, the same day the vice presidential candidates take the stage for their own debate. Those who have signed up on the website to be a member of The Pizza Party can choose between wings, pasta or Stuffed Pizza Rollers as the VP.

More information about the debate reward, the VP candidates and the mission of The Pizza Party is available at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty.

*Reward recipient must be an official attendee and ask either candidate during the live telecast "sausage or pepperoni" or "pepperoni or sausage." Complete reward details are available at PizzaHut.com/PizzaParty.

· Press Release [Pizza Hut]
· All Pizza Hut Coverage on Eater [-E-]