Weirdest. Strategy. Ever.

I receive dozens of nutty emails from P.R. people every day. But the one that hit my inbox at 11:18 this morning has to be the nuttiest. I won't name names or anything. I'll just let the pitch speak for itself.

Washington, D.C.; September 23, 2008...A strategically scented presidential campaign, incorporating calculated aromas in event venues, signs and merchandise, could turn the tide in the current presidential race. With polls indicating the election is extremely close, the result could come down to just a few percentage points separating Senators John McCain and Barack Obama...

There is a multitude of research proving that scent highly influences a person's perception of products and people. Studies show that scent can significantly alter the perception of age, weight, attractiveness, and reliability of a person...

Endorphin branding is the use of scent as a means of imprinting a highly emotional, positive experience in tandem with a targeted signature scent, which can be reintroduced at a later time to trigger and recreate the desired response. This strategy should be implemented at political events, which are positively charged environments ripe for this type of scent branding.

This presidential election has already seen historic, innovative campaign efforts, particularly Senator Obama's use of the Internet to raise funds and communicate his messages. A multi-faceted, scented campaign could provide the edge one of these candidates needs to help gain victory in November.

Could it now? And here I thought the election was all about turnout and economic messaging.

All kidding aside--or most kidding aside--I'd love to hear your picks for each candidate's "targeted individual scent." Should McCain deploy a manly musk? Or is the smell of mothballs and Ben-Gay more fitting? Would a Polynesian aroma--say, Plumeria flowers--prove too "exotic" for Obama? Perhaps he should stick with apple pie instead...

Who "nose." This could be the future of political marketing. 

I'll highlight the best response in this space. If there are any.