Hot election heats demand for signs, buttons

Political buttons, signs and stickers are an election year tradition.

And here in Central Oregon, they’re selling like hot cakes.

Leaders of the Deschutes County Democrats and Republicans said on Monday they can hardly keep up with the demand for Obama and Romney souvenirs and trinkets.

The most popular items are the yard signs.

But Democrats spokeswoman Laurie Gould says pop-culture buttons like “Dogs for Obama”are a local favorite.

And at the Republican headquarters, Romney-Ryan T-shirts can be picked up for a $5 donation.

Everything “Obama” or “Romney” does come with a price tag. But officials say it hasn’t stopped people from showing their allegiance.

Deschutes Republican Chair Mark Moseleysaid they were out of Romney-Ryan signs when we visited.

“Typically, right after the debate, the next two days, it’s a madhouse,” Moseley said. “The door is moving back and forth with people wanting to pick up his yard signs and install them in their yard.”

Gould agreed that Obama signs are the most popular item people pick up, but said buttons are doing especially well this year.

“Lots of Obama buttons,” Gould said. “They’re made here locally, and people really like them. And then we went into the bumper sticker phase, where everybody wanted bumper stickers. And the last couple of weeks, certainly since the debates started, we’ve been selling a lot of Obama lawn signs.”

Both Gould and Moseley said most items in the headquarters are free to the public — those items supporting local officials running for office.

Most items showing support for Obama or Romney are available for between a $2 and $20 donation.