Pizza Hut moving its US presidential debate promotion online after initial plan daring people to ask 'sausage or pepperoni?' during debate triggers backlash; contestant will be randomly selected to win free pizza for life

Nevin Barich

NEW YORK , October 15, 2012 (Associated Press) – Pizza Hut is rethinking its contest daring people to ask "Sausage or Pepperoni?" at the presidential debate Tuesday.

After the stunt triggered backlash last week, the company says it's moving the promotion online, where a contestant will be randomly selected to win free pizza for life.

The pizza delivery chain had offered the prize — a pie a week for 30 years or a check for $15,600 — to anyone who posed the question to either President Barack Obama or Republican candidate Mitt Romney during the live Town Hall-style debate.

But blogs and media outlets immediately took the pizza delivery chain to task for trying to capitalize on the election buzz by injecting itself into the process.

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