How Obama Won the Graphic T-shirts Race

As I walk along down a side street in downtowncommon on t shirts- not the kind of clothing that you
New York, I can't help but notice the graphic teewant people wearing when trying to convince voters.
that is hanging at eye level as I walk by a smallAs for the graphic t-shirts that were in support of
clothing store. The t shirt has a giant peace sign inher, they were meant mainly for older middle aged
the middle, with a black and white image of Barackwomen, not the young people who were wearing
Obama inside of it. There are others: one t shirt saysObama tees.
"hope" below the image of Obama, others simplyThe same goes for McCain, but he has it even
have a vintage design of his face. These are typicalworse. His target age group is of another epoch -
political graphic t-shirts, but of a new kind.shirt designers are not interested by the market that
Graphic tee designers have understood that there isis out there for shirts that support him, but the
a clear demand in the U.S. - and internationally - forcontrary. Graphic t-shirts that reference McCain
shirts depicting the presidential hopeful. He representsusually tie him to President Bush (one t-shirt calls him
change - not only through his campaign, but in theMcSame), to water boarding, or to the rich. His tee
way he has been conducting his campaign, with adesigns usually revolve around a white, red, and blue
strong Internet presence and a new campaigncolor scheme, with a giant star on the back of the t
funding structure. Just as certain rock groups - theshirts.
Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Ramones - each hadAnother thing that Obama has going for him is that
famous band t shirts, which sent a universal messagethe graphic t-shirts depicting him are still rather
that went beyond their music, Obama graphic t-shirtsexclusive diverse and some are hard to find. New
say something that appeals to a wide audience.York clothing stores have not yet embraced these
Designers have come-up with a plethora of graphicsgraphic t shirts and therefore, leave intact the feeling
to convey this message of hope and change, mainlyof wearing something original when one finds an
revolving around a vintage look, or a touch ofunusual political message tshirt that support that
rainbow here and there.candidate. What Obama has achieved is an online
Hillary Clinton missed out on the graphic tee train. Shemarketing campaign that runs itself through its young
did not appeal to the right age group for designers tosupporters and graphic tee designers, something that
start making t shirts in support of her. They tendedMcCain may have to pay for dearly later down the
to be anti-Clinton, in fact. Bad photos of her lookingroad.
quite tired or with devil horns on her head were