By Mark Theissen
Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Miami rapper Pitbull might soon be chilling out in Alaska.
In a marketing deal, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will send Pitbull, aka Armando Christian Perez, to the store that gets the most "likes" on its Facebook page.
Right now, the leading candidate is Kodiak, Alaska. And there might be a reason.
A writer for The Boston Phoenix newspaper thought it'd be funny to send Pitbull to the most remote Walmart possible, and is encouraging people to "like" the Walmart in Kodiak.
It seems to be working.
The Kodiak Walmart had more than 35,000 "likes" Monday, more than five times the town's population.
Kodiak has a significant lead in the contest to land Pitbull, but actual numbers weren't immediately available, Walmart spokeswoman Sarah Spencer said.
She says other Walmart shoppers have until July 16 to like their local stores and pull ahead of Kodiak.
"I know Pitbull is hoping his Miami Walmart shoppers start liking their Facebook page," she said.
That would require some heavy lifting, with one Miami location sitting tight with 45 "likes" Monday.
"He's definitely coming to Kodiak if Kodiak wins," she said.
It would be the rapper's first visit to Alaska.
Pitbull, who is touring Europe, seems to be taking the contest in good nature. "Wherever the fans want to have a party, I will be there," he said in an emailed statement sent Monday from Austria.
Kodiak Island is about 225 miles southwest of Anchorage. It's home to the nation's largest Coast Guard base, and the island is known for its Kodiak brown bear population.
That fact wasn't lost on Pitbull, who tweeted Saturday: "I hear there's bear repellant at Kodiak, Alaska (at)walmartspecials."
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