US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

MERCHANDISE

FROM GOLD TO FLIP FLOPS

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Presidential merchandise, promotional items, and swag have recently become a staple in any serious candidate’s champaign. However, how did this bizarre consumerist phenomenon begin? The first election to utilize merchandise is still up for debate. It is certain that gold coins were the first item used in the 19th century. This draws a curious parallel to photography’s involvement in elections. Lincoln(pictured left) was the first candidate to really utilize photography in his election. At this point, photography still existed a precious objects, much like the golden coin merchandise used at the time. As photography has progressed its moved from the few and precious to the virtually infinite and often frivolous. Media whirlwinds like Buzzfeed and reddit have surely proven this in the most recent 2012 election. Merchandise has followed the same path. It began to move from coin to buttons to t-shirt. Now both candidates and voters now will attach a name to virtually any object they can find. The following pages serve as a sample archive of memorabilia of modern day elections, the absurdities and odd items that fade into memory almost as quick as they come into reality much like the photographs of the same time period.

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1860 Lincoln Election Coin

1860 Lincoln Election Photograph

1996 Cl inton vs Dole

1996 Election Poster

1996 Election Button

Dole Election Button

1996 Cl inton vs Dole 2000 Bush vs Gore

Post Election Sticker

Gore 2000 Button

Bush Russian Propaganda Tote 2000 Republican Dog T-Shirt

2004 Bush vs Kerry

Bush Country Stick

W. Bush Champaign Sticker

Bush and Kerry Golf Tees

2004 Bush vs Kerry 2008 Obama vs McCain

Sarah Palin School Girl Action Figure

Facebook for Obama Button

McCain Clock

Obama Lip Chap

2012 Obama vs Romney

Romney “Flip Flops”

Obama iPhone 4 Case

Post Election Sticker

Gay Support Obama Baby ClothesObama Birth Certificate Sticker

2012 Obama vs Romney

Romney Chia Pet

7/11 Election cups

60% off sale the day after election

I <3 Bo Sweater