Obama: The merch

NYT has the story: “The campaign’s online sales of gear hit $1.5 million in January, up from $380,000 in December.”

I haven’t been as blown away as some people by the Obama campaign’s graphic design, but I am impressed by one T-shirt I saw on his site the other day, and that the Times story says “has been especially popular; 700 sold out within 24 hours.” It’s this one:

So on-trend it hurts! I love the shamrock peeking into the logo.

The piece also mentions what’s probably been my favorite unofficial manifestations of Obama as muse, Shepard Fairey’s portrait:

a limited edition print with Mr. Obama’s face and the word “hope,” produced by Shepard Fairey, a graffiti artist, originally sold for $25. With all 600 sold out, the pieces are now going for as much as $1,500 on eBay, Mr. Fairey said.

Fairey unveiled that print back in January, including with the announcement his concise and straightforward statement about his motivation, and his support of the candidate. Personally my favorite thing about it is the Obey Giant icon face making a discreet cameo on Obama’s logo-pin:

More here on how this image has gotten around — and made its way onto a T-shirt via Upper Playground.

Whether any of this is meaningful to the actual primary … well, we’ll learn more today.