President-elect Barack Obama has the Midas touch, as shoppers, ahead of the inauguration, are snatching anything with his name or image.
Political souvenir shops say they are bringing in a small fortune on anything bearing Obama's image.
Even his calendars are selling like hotcakes -- not since Kennedy have Americans been
willing to give a president 12 months of calendar wall space.
And the Obama-mania is not just an American phenomena.
One shop owner says 25
percent of his business comes from overseas customers.
In fact, the
enthusiasm for Obama merchandise is so great, he's opening his
first stores in London and Berlin.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JIM WARLICK, OWNER, POLITICAL AMERICANA
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RACHEL MATAIRA, A SHOPPER FROM NEW ZEALAND
