Denny’s Seeks Presidential Impersonations in YouTube Contest

Denny’s is seeking consumer-generated videos that show people’s best impressions of the 2008 presidential candidates in its latest online contest.

The “America Votes for Real” contest asks customers who look like, sound like, or vaguely resemble presidential hopefuls Arizona Sen. John McCain and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to make a short video talking about “real breakfast,” Denny’s full service, made-to-order, prepared fresh experience. The top winners will receive a free monthly meal at Denny’s through the next presidential election in 2012 in the form of Denny’s gift cards.

People can submit videos at http://www.youtube.com/group/Vote4Real through July 31. Once the videos are uploaded, entrants should complete an entry form with their video URL at http://www.vote4real.com.

Entries will be evaluated on appearance and mannerisms. Videos that attack the candidates or their policies will be disqualified, the company said. The top three impersonators of each candidate will be added to Denny’s “Vote for Real” ballot. People can vote on their favorites from Aug. 5 to Aug. 15.

Denny’s is promoting the contest on its www.vote4real.com site, as well as via YouTube. In addition, it’s using PR to reach out to blogs and Web sites.

This effort builds on Denny’s ongoing “Vote for Real” campaign, a component of its “Don’t Fall for Fake” initiative that attempts to persuade people to have a real breakfast at its restaurants. The company kicked off the effort this spring using an election-themed campaign, playing off the presidential election, with guerrilla marketing tactics, PR, TV spots and in-store activities (Promo April, 2008).

Visitors to vote4real.com can also enter a separate sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for two to Washington, D.C. in January 2009 to partake in the presidential inauguration festivities. Online marketing supports the effort, which runs through Nov. 4.

Publicis Mid America Dallas is handling the campaign and Fleishman-Hillard is in charge of PR.

Denny’s is further supporting its “real breakfast” campaign with a new take out program called B-FST 2GO that offers a full breakfast in customized Denny’s Dome packaging. The initiative is being supported via TV spots, in-store merchandising and on Denny’s Web site http://www.Dennys.com.