There has been a sudden explosion of collectible Obama coins, Barack Obama porcelain plates and gazillions of other items capitalizing on the popular president-elect's very marketable image.[image-nocss]
Even as Americans tighten their purse strings with the country in a full-blown financial crisis, a surprising number appear eager to part with $20 or $30 for their very own Obama treasure.
The Obama marketing blitz, evident in U.S. convenience stores, corner kiosks and especially on the Internet, comes just in time for the Christmas holiday shopping season, when consumption-oriented Americans are even more ready than usual to part with their money.
"We are expecting huge crowds during the holidays and Inauguration Week," Audrey Cooper, sales clerk at the new "Obama Inaugural Gift Center" that opened earlier this month in downtown Washington, told the news agency.
In the wake of last month's election, anything with the president-elect's name or face printed on it has gained sudden cache-and often a hefty price tag to match.
The Obama-commercialism is raging across this consumption crazy country has even infected visitors from overseas, said the report. "There are floods of people during lunch time or before and after work and a lot of tourists from England, Brazil, France, Germany or Russia, even from Africa," said Cooper.
With Obama's January 20 inauguration coming in a few weeks, Americans are more eager than ever to claim that Obama collectible, the report added. "Be among the first to have the most sought after collection that celebrates the most significant, event in presidential elections, since the founding fathers created this great country," trumpets one Internet site offering specially minted coins with a "life-like image of Obama as the man who changed the world."
For the president-elect's younger fans there is the Obama doll, a molded plastic figure selling for $29.95, plus shipping and handling costs.
One now-famous Obama collectible was available across America on the day after the election for the bargain price of a dollar or less: the coveted November 5 editions of newspapers proclaiming Obama's election victory sold at newsstands across the United States and set off the buying frenzy for all-things-Obama that has gripped the country ever since.
And there is what has quickly become classic Obama bestseller-the now iconic pop-art t-shirt sold by the thousands across the country displaying the image of former Illinois senator, in semiprofile, gazing heroically into America's future.
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