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'Bark Obama' t-shirts a hit

Denver - Democrat "poop", Barack Obama hot-sauce and t-shirts for dogs: Denver souvenir shops are doing a roaring trade in gifts and souvenirs during convention week. At her downtown dog boutique - Dog Savvy - owner Dana Hood says Democratic-themed accessories for pooches have been flying off the shelves in the build-up to the party pow-wow. The most popular items? "The 'Bark Obama' t-shirts have been selling really well, and the George W Bush biscuits have been a big hit," Hood said. Not surprisingly, Obama merchandise has been heavily outscoring the souvenirs that cater to supporters of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. "If our sales figures were votes then Obama would win by a landslide," Hood said. "Every day we rearrange the displays where customers have picked stuff up - but we never have to touch the McCain section because no one goes near it," she added, pointing to a neatly stacked pile of "John McCanine" dog t-shirts. It has been a similar story at shops offering more conventional souvenirs such as Obama t-shirts, badges and pins. At Where The Buffalo Roam on Denver's bustling 16th Street, store manager Reuben Beachem says Obama souvenirs are the only game in town. "Business has been booming," Beachem said. "Since people started arriving in town for the convention our sales are up by about 200%." Top sellers have been t-shirts carrying the striking stylised portrait of Obama by contemporary artist Shepard Fairey, Beachem said. Another popular style is a plain black t-shirt bearing the slogan "Obama, Believe", with a peace sign replacing the "O" of Obama. "They have really been running out of the door," Beachem said, describing the throng of shoppers rummaging through the store as unprecedented. "I didn't know it was going to be this busy. The only other thing it comes close to is the World Series," Beachem added, referring to the Colorado Rockies' appearance in baseball's showpiece game last year. While most customers are Democratic enthusiasts, Beachem said specialist collectors had been snapping up items that reflected the historic nature of this year's election, including one man who bought several bobble-head statuettes featuring a caricature of Obama. "This is the first African American to be nominated at the DNC. It's going to be historical," he said. Other stores however are offering more off-beat items, including "Democrat Donkey Poop" - blue chocolate-covered sunflower seeds - at $7.99, Obama playing cards, shot glasses and Obama hot sauce. The official Democratic National Convention souvenir store meanwhile was stocking an ominous sounding board game: "Wreck the Nation: The Game of Political Misbehaviour."

 

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