Water Cooler

Got Your Obama Underwear? Palin Wig? 'McCippah?'

Locally-Made Campaign Gear Fly Off The Shelves Across NYC

Candidate Cookies Sold Out; Palin Wigs Selling For $700, Mostly To Orthodox Jewish Women

NEW YORK (CBS) ― The race between Barack Obama and John McCain has created its own cottage industry. All types of products featuring the candidates' images are popping up online and in stores.

CBS 2 decided to do a bit of its own political shopping.

In the business of politics, where the two presidential nominees have been working themselves tirelessly on the campaign trail, it's no surprise someone would figure out a way to make a buck or two on all this.

Have you seen the popular Obama, McCain, Sarah Palin, and Joe Biden cookies at Zaro's Bakery in Grand Central? Of course, if you can't find them now, there's a good reason for that.

"They're all gone. They're all sold out right now," said Brian Zaro, who runs the bakery. "Big, big, big business. It's been great for us."

Then you've got your Obama and McCain Halloween masks for presidential wannabes who aren't actually running.

There are even political action figures of our potential leaders of the free world.

And you've even got, believe it or not, Barack Obama underwear. That's right, Obama underwear by Andrew Christian, available in three colors, for supporters who want to…on second thought, nevermind.

"'Have you seen the new Barack Obama underwear?' That's all we have to say, and it's sold," says Fernan Royo, who owns the shop "Rainbows and Triangles" where the undergarments are sold.

Let us not forget political yarmulkes, by VanityKippah.com. There's the "Obamika" and the "McCippah." And if that doesn't wig you out, how about Palin wigs, custom made at Georgie Salon in Brooklyn for about $695, styling included. Store owners say they are selling, largely to orthodox Jewish women who keep their hair covered.

"Fashion trumps politics in this case and people just want that classic look that she has," says Shlomo Klein of Georgie Wigs.

So while it may be presidential politics, it's certainly business unusual. 

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---