 Leading up to the 2002 elections, he positioned his party equidistantly from the major parties and refused to commit his party to a coalition with either the Christian Democrats or the Social Democrats.He was also named the FDP's candidate for the office of chancellor.Since the FDP had never claimed such a candidacy (and hasn't done since) and had no chance of attaining it against the two major parties, this move was widely seen as political marketing alongside other ploys, such as driving around in a campaign van dubbed the "Guidomobile", wearing the figure "18" on the soles of his shoes or appearing in the "Big Brother" TV show.