Electoral Mess Or Cash Grab?

By Amanda Bower, Val Castronovo, Steven Frank, Ling Minhua, Ellin Martens, Michele Orecklin, Julie Rawe, Sora Song and Josh Tyrangiel Monday, Dec. 04, 2000

Lawyers aren't the only ones making money off the presidential tug-of-war in Florida. Advertisers are using Deadlock 2000 to hawk every product from milk (1) to Monster.com to a TV show on who Jesus was ("Isn't it time we decided?"). Hedge-betting retailers who prepared victory merchandise for both candidates merged the designs to create toss-up memorabilia, such as WashingtonMint.com's $29.95 two-headed coin (2). Similarly themed buttons (3) and mugs can be found at Political Americana, a gift shop in Washington, and AndersonStudioInc.com has fused the candidates' logos on a T shirt (4) for $16.25. As we approach stocking-stuffer season, shoppers who missed the bags of chads on eBay last week can bid on a lovely "Too Close to Call" Christmas ornament (5). Who knew the window of merchandising opportunity would be open this long?