Politics & Government

Pizza Hut Challenge Looms Prior to Tuesday Presidential Debate

Pizza chain will honor contest despite backlash.

Pizza Hut backpedaled Monday after announcing a contest last week that would have awarded a pie per week for 30 years to those bold enough to ask the presidential candidates one "pressing" question: "Sausage or Pepperoni?"

The pizza chain—which has one location in Poway—last week announced that it would give either a pizza pie per week for 30 years or a check for $15,600 to anyone who would ask either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney the aforementioned topping question during the live town hall-style debate at Hofstra University on Tuesday.

According to the Daily News:

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But after it was slammed for making light of presidential politics, the pizza chain changed course to say it would ask the question of its customers rather than the candidates.

Stephen Colbert had mocked the contest on his show last week, asking: "What could be more American than using our electoral process for product placement?"

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The company has since moved its contest online following backlash from multiple media outlets.

The Associated Press has reported that Pizza Hut will still honor its original contest if someone were to pose the question to the two candidates, but is "encouraging everyone to participate in the new online version, where contestants must enter their email addresses and zip codes to be eligible. The company did not say whether it would award two prizes if someone does ask the question."


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