Employees at agency that created Chrysler Super Bowl spot backed Obama, though White House denies role in ad

Feb. 5:This advertisement provided by Chrysler Group LLC, shows actor Clint Eastwood, featured in an ad titled "It's Halftime In America," which aired during Super Bowl XVLI. (AP)

Some of the creative minds behind the company that produced Chrysler's Super Bowl ad reportedly were active supporters of President Obama in the 2008 election, though the White House insists nobody from the president's team coordinated on the content of the talked-about spot featuring Clint Eastwood.

The moody two-minute ad, narrated with Eastwood's trademark snarl, has raised the ire of conservatives who effectively accused Chrysler of touting the Obama administration's auto bailout policies. The ad used the slogan, "It's halftime in America."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, several Obama supporters work for the ad company Wieden+Kennedy that produced the ad. Aaron Allen, creative director, created a poster for Obama in the 2008 campaign, according to the Reporter. Jimm Lasser, the ad's art director, reportedly put up a New York exhibit featuring Obama-themed shoes.

But virtually all parties involved have denied politics were at play.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday afternoon that neither the White House nor the Obama campaign had a role in the ad.

The federal government sold its last shares of Chrysler last June to Italian car maker Fiat, ultimately absorbing a $1.3 billion loss.

But the company stayed afloat and Carney touted that fact as questions about the ad made their way to the briefing room.

"It does point out a simple fact, which is that the automobile industry in this country was on its back and potentially poised to liquidate three years ago," Carney said. "And this president made decisions that were not very popular at the time that were guided by two important principles: one, that he should do what he could to ensure that 1 million jobs would not be lost; and, two, that the American automobile industry should be able to thrive globally, if the right conditions were created."