New poll: Obama outsells Clinton off the racks

DARLINGS, who needs those fusty, bespectacled pundits and confusing polls when the current fashions can predict the Democrats' next presidential candidate? Finally, some fun data to discuss over mimosas at Sunday brunch: Barack Obama T-shirts created by L.A. cult artist Shepard Fairey recently fetched an average $381.39 on EBay. Wow, you say, but what about . . . Hillary Rodham Clinton shirts designed by Marc Jacobs sold for an average $54.82.

"A couple of months ago, Barack Obama memorabilia and paraphernalia was selling about 5% better, but he really pulled ahead in the fashion wars lately," says Karen Bard, who is billed as EBay's pop culture expert. (Brows raised.) Be advised that sales of Lindsay Lohan items on EBay jumped 260% in the last 30 days too. If she makes six more months sober, can we make her a running mate?

Of course, Fairey's limited-edition run of 900 shirts -- which were passed out free at an Obama rally -- easily makes them more coveted; Marc Jacobs' Clinton shirts are available at his shop on Melrose Boulevard in sizes medium and large. "We have plenty," said a salesclerk by phone Friday. "They're selling, um, moderately." Oh, dear.

At CafePress.com, where you can design your own T-shirt, Obama merch accounts for 73% of candidate-related sales; Clinton stuff makes up just 14.5%. But it's fascinating to note that he was slightly lagging behind her until the end of 2007. Wearing Sen. John McCain on your sleeve? Not so chic. McCain-related merch currently accounts for 2.9% of sales.

Sure, T-shirts skew young, which suits Obama's demo. So -- would Clinton's fans be more apt to wear their politics on their arm? Nope. Freddy & Ma, a custom online handbag designer, introduced "Vote Hillary" and "Vote Obama" totes in November for $25 apiece. The Obama version quickly became the political "it" bag. And last week, co-owner Amy Pigliacampo decided to mark down the Clinton bag to $10. "We had to put the Hillary totes on sale because we still have a lot left," she says. "And it's almost over."

Photo: Marc Jacobs

Comments

[mary]

Interesting stats on sales. I like the new O'bama green T with shamrock in tribute to his Irish roots myself.

Cafe Press, of course, is user generated product with possible copyright infringement on use of some images. Not impressed by the Cafe Press sales because I saw the type of Obama merchandise being sold. The He Is A Muslim!!! stuff; the photo shopped to dress him as Hitler stuff and will not mention those who still think people should be lynched due to skin color, because it is too vulgar to mention.

Technology is a double edged sword. It makes studying candidates easy with access to voting records, checking the status of Bills and Resolutions, verifying false claims and studying history. It also enables haters to spread lies and disrespect instantly.

[Booky]

Hillary—the pantsuits, the mysterious tax returns, and the socialism/communism will do her in.

[Jesse Monsen]

Cuba just got a 'new' (very experienced) Castro. Russia just got a 'new' Putin (Medvedev). The U.S. should fall into line now and get a 'new' Clinton?

[torey]

its nice to not be seriuous all the time , Hillary Clinton presents her take on Sarah Silverman's 'I'm F*cking Matt Damon
http://www.webcastr.com/videos/comedy/im-f-cking-obama-hillary-clinton.html

[Sam Osborne]

As provocatively reckless as some of the Clinton’s past behavior has at times appeared to be, it never hinted at bigotry. Now in a win-at-any-cost promotion of themselves, rather than take a firm stand against the specter of racial intolerance, they have been willing to surreptitiously water its hateful seeds. In pursuit of their ends, Bill Clinton has been out on the stump uttering “working people” as code word for “white.”

From the back of a flatbed truck at a ballpark, a folksy Mr. President Bubba Bill says, "Today her opponent's campaign strategist said, 'Well, we don't really need these working-class people to win, half the time they vote for Republicans anyways.'" The crowd is reminded that their “elitist” opponent is not like them---this said as tracks are covered and the ability to fight back is silenced by the charge that Obama is playing the race card—how else would he have ever gotten where he is?

It is hard to believe that in Indiana there may be any of the fallow ground of fear and discontent that gave resprout to the ugly head of the Klan back in the days of the Great Depression. Regardless of what the Clintons chance to do, what say Hoosier Democrats of the stance of their state party in these challenging times?

[Jim]

There are 2 decks of political playing cards at this site with Obama, McCain and others drawn as wild animals.
http://www.newtsgames.com/politically-wild.html
While Obama "was" ahead, since Palin came in the picture his deck is doing better.