Most popular Democratic National Convention souvenirs

August 26, 7:47 AMDenver People ExaminerErnie Tucker

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Jim Maser ... buttons down business
(ExamCam)

Aside from the oddities for sale to the steady stream of delegates and curious at the Colorado Convention Center and other spots – such as the Hillary laughing pen and Obama-in-a-Box – there were plenty of freebies Monday. Clean Coal handed out boxes of mints with a map of Denver, PETA distributed “Tax Meat” buttons, while Denver Water had a drinking fountain hooked up to a hydrant with a sign noting that people could drink all they wanted. Along Stout Street, about a dozen electric cars were parked for free rides offered along with information from organizations such as Plug in America (www.pluginamerica.org) and electric car manufacturers such as AMPLE.

But in the midst of $22 Obama/Biden 2008 T-shirts, rubber Obama stress-relieving squeeze toys, $20 flip-flops with “Yes we can” on one foot and “Si se puede” on the other, and even replicas of the Blue Bear sculpture, the coin of the political realm remains the tinny Gold Standard – metal buttons.

Jim Maser of Colorado Springs, dressed like Uncle Sam in a red, white and blue star-spangled top hat, was doing steady trade with the real currency of a convention, the Democratic discs. “I’ve been here since Friday, and probably sold a 1,000,” he said.

And while novelties such as one psychedelic-colored orb with a round Peace Sign in place of the letter “O” in Obama were common, the meat-and-potatoes were the pairing of the Democratic ticket,  Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Priced at $3 apiece, or 4-for-$10, these buttons were moving.

Maser, who also trades on eBay, said “I bought them all online” and, he added, he expects them all to sell before the DNC winds down on Friday.