McCain Foods uses candidate to boost image

Phoenix -- Canada's McCain Foods said it is using the presidential campaign of John McCain -- no relation to the company -- to boost its image in the United States.

McCain Foods took out a full page ad in USA Today that humorously tied the presumptive Republican nominee to its frozen potato products, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday.

The ad, headlined "Why McCain Should Be In the White House," steers clear of endorsing or even mentioning the Arizona senator and instead lists reasons why consumers should embrace change and choose its spuds rather than settling for ordinary French fries.

The ad will be accompanied by on-the-street performances by comedian Frank Caliendo in the McCain-friendly territory of Phoenix, Ariz., McCain Foods said.

Caliendo will be performing in character as John McCain while name-dropping the Canadian company's potatoes. The performances will be taped and posted to YouTube and other Web sites in an attempt to help raise the profile of the company in its neighbor to the south.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.