Political Scandal is Marketing Gold - Official Virgin Mobile Spitzer Ad

One man’s prostitution scandal is another man’s marketing gold. I kid you not, this is an official Virgin Mobile Canada ad. The disgraced New York governor Eliot Spitzer, aka Client #9, is featured in the ad musing under a thought bubble: “I’m tired of being treated like a number...” The ad then says, “At Virgin Mobile, you’re more than just a number. When you call us we’ll treat you like a person, not a client. Whether you’re #9 or #900, you’ll get hooked up with somebody who’ll finally treat you just how you want to be treated.”

Nathan Rosenberg, chief marketing officer at Virgin Mobile, stated that the ad will run in two Toronto daily newspapers this week as part of the company’s “You call the shots” campaign. “We weren’t planning on an ad featuring Governor Spitzer, but he caught our attention this week.” On one hand I think it is very tacky and a low-blow for a big name, and on the other I can’t help but say kudos for the genius!