Pizza Hut's cheesy debate stunt

This year's presidential campaigns have yet to give us the "zingers" or memorable quotes we've heard in past contests. But if one of the nation’s largest pizza chains gets its way, we may soon have the phrase "sausage or pepperoni?" to add to the U.S. political lexicon.

Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum Brands (YUM), is trying to make pizza a topic during the next presidential debate at Hofstra University -- offering an audience member free pizza for life for bringing pie into the discussion.

"The next debate is town hall style, which means real people ask real questions,” a new Pizza Hut ad intones. "With that said, if someone asks a question about pizza during the next debate on Oct. 16, Pizza Hut will supply them with free pizza for life."

According to the ad, the questioner must be an official attendee at the debate, and must also ask either candidate "sausage or pepperoni?" or "pepperoni or sausage?" Either version of the question is apparently acceptable.

No word yet on how the candidates are reacting to this stunt -- or of their pizza topping preferences, for that matter.

Pizza Hut has calculated free pizza for life to be worth $15,600 -- and will give a check for that amount to the person asking the right question. The individual is responsible for paying taxes on that amount. A better question for the candidates might be about the appropriate taxes for that amount.

Will any attendee be brazen enough to ask the $15,600 question? People have done far more ridiculous things for that kind of money before. Remember the woman in this Cnet story who tattooed GoldenPalace.com on her forehead for $10,000?