In any case, the decision to include the face of U.S. political along with the lottery numbers that promise to do so rich overnight captured the attention and was by word of mouth.

This is not the first time that the marketing strategies of Gonzalez generate controversy. The last September, to coincide with the Day of Livestock, the manager ordered the printing of lottery tickets in the image of her husband, Javier Omaña, because, according to her, a renowned cattle in the region.

Some described this decision as a ‘indelicadeza’ the official. On the inclusion of Obama were heard voices of indifference, not to make others uncomfortable tribute to the race Creoles and other characters with more than lamented the decline in sales.

“What we wanted was just that, causing interest and attract the attention of people. For the marketing of the lottery we have to be very creative when it comes to advertising because we do not have money to pay for advertising,” said Gonzalez.

The manager admits that the draw metense could print the face of a Colombian African descent or a member of any ethnic group indigenous to the region, but said that for this occasion was made as an advertising strategy for increasing sales and, therefore, raise the resources that the draw turns to health.

“I do not regret, because I do not know what could be wrong,” he said and announced that in the future be issued to other characters.

But Maria Quiroga, a vendor of lottery for 23 years, said that this decision was not right and it’s better to put the president Álvaro Uribe, because he will surely shoot sales. “The sale of the draw today (yesterday) I was dropped, last week had sold about 30 tickets at noon and with this lot just took about 12,” he said.

Oscar Ramirez, lottery buyer, believed that due to make another character of local life, like an artist or an athlete to be stimulated.

And while few were against the decision because, they said, Obama is critical of President Uribe and does not agree with the FTA, others took it as an amulet, it gave the blessing and bought the lottery with the firm conviction that they would go well, because being black and ‘gringo’, would give them more luck.

Margarita Ardila, a saleswoman for 35 years who frequents the plaza of the Centaurs, said that he did not see anything weird to be the candidate for the presidency of that power in the form of lottery tickets it offers local, and what happens is that Colombians are very ‘fussy’.