Presidential Purchasing: O Say Can You Buy?

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POLLS SAY MORE than 71 percent of Americans approve of the job Barack Obama is doing, and he isn't even president yet. But souvenir makers and artists? The way they've been stealing Obama's image suggests full-on obsession.

Search for "Obama" on handmade shopping hub Etsy.com, and you'll see nearly 3,000 items, ranging from glow-in-the-dark fridge magnets to Barack O'Buddha candles.

"Obama isn't just the next president; he's a pop culture icon," says Lorielle Broussard of Barackawear.com, which has sold nearly 50,000 tees, hats, dog collars and other O-pparel. "So many people got involved in this election, it completely upped the creativity of the items being made."

Broussard herself has snagged Barack-themed beer bottles, sodas and teddy bears. "You can find just about anything with Obama's face on it," she says. "Years from now, I suppose I'll pull out my Barack bobblehead figurine and reminisce about this historic event."

Here's a selection of commander-in-chief tchotchkes:

» Vintage papers star on Via Delia's buttons ($6, kiosk, Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE; Viadelia.com).

» The future prez battles to get the Democratic nomination in "Presidential Material: Barack Obama." ($4, Presidentialcomics.com).

» Looking for wall change you can believe in? Stick up a Lana Cole decal ($25, Lanakole.etsy.com).

» Kicks custom-decorated by artist Van Monroe have enough game for the b-baller in chief ($125 and up, Myspace.com/van20).

» Election Day headlines amount to a style landslide on Lynda Zamora's leather clutch ($200, Armandojavierdesign.etsy.com).

» Switch first fashionista Michelle Obama's outfits in a paper doll set ($12, Political-paperdolls.com).

» Obama hasn't made Mount Rushmore (yet), but he has been cast in chocolate ($20, Pinkwhitebrown.com).

» Clean your hands as the new chief exec cleans up politics with Audacity of Soap bars ($10, Myobamabar.com).

Written by Express contributor Ashley Joy Parker
Photo by Marge Ely/Express