Pepsi cashes in with the Yes You Can

LEADING American brands are launching Barack Obama-inspired campaigns ahead of next week's presidential inauguration.

Companies including Pepsi, Ikea, T.G.I. Friday's and Dunkin' Donuts are all trying to tap into "the feelgood factor" surrounding 20 January's event.

Pepsi is using the inauguration to launch its "Pepsi optimism project" complete with the slogan "Yes You Can" and Ikea will start a "Change Begins at Home" campaign, featuring a replica Oval Office at Washington's Union Station with "fiscally responsible furnishings".

Dunkin' Donuts will sell red-white-and-blue-sprinkled "Stars & Stripes" doughnuts and Ben & Jerry's have a new flavour ice cream Yes Pecan with profits going to the Common Cause Education Fund. Walt Guarino, professor of advertising at Seton Hall University, said: "[Obama] is being regarded as the hopeful answer to a lot of problems. To be identified with him right now is a good thing."