- Title: Trump, Clinton souvenirs fly off the shelves ahead of U.S. election
- Date: 25th October 2016
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) PAN SHOT "THE WHITE HOUSE" SIGN TO WIDE OF SOUVENIR SHOP WOMAN LOOKING AT TEE-SHIRT FEATURING DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE HILLARY CLINTON PAN SHOT SOUVENIRS OF REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE DONALD TRUMP TO SOUVENIRS OF CLINTON CLINTON TEE-SHIRTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LISA OSTERDOCK, TOURIST FROM CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "Oh, it has been quite the circus, unfortunately. And it's quite embarrassing for Americans to be witnessing such things." TOURIST, ALBERTO ORELLANA, LOOKING AT TRUMP TEE-SHIRTS TRUMP'S "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" HAT MUGS FEATURING CLINTON AND DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE TIM KAINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALBERTO ORELLANA, TOURIST FROM FLORIDA WHO RECENTLY MOVED FROM CUBA, SAYING: "Well I'm waiting for it, because I'm excited to see who's going to win -- you never know." WIDE SHOT WALL OF ELECTION-RELATED SOUVENIRS TRUMP MUGS CLINTON MUGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHYILLIS MECHARIA, INTERN FROM CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "I think it's been a spectacle. It's not very presidential in my opinion looking at the debates, but its 2016, I guess. Times are changing." TOURISTS LOOKING THROUGH SOUVENIRS CLINTON AND TRUMP BREATH MINTS TOURISTS LOOKING AT TRUMP SOUVENIRS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HECTOR LOPEZ, TOURIST FROM ARIZONA, SAYING: "A little bit, yeah. But I know, you know, how it goes with every election -- Republican, Democrat, so." TRUMP BOBBLEHEAD DOLL CLINTON BOBBLEHEAD DOLL CHILDREN LOOKING AT TRUMP SOUVENIRS (SOUNDBITE) (English) AGNIESZKA WIDMANN, TOURIST FROM CZECH REPUBLIC, SAYING: "It's interesting to see how the population of Americans abroad is also divided and people that we're friends with that we would have never said that, you know, they will be so emotional about this election, they are really split as well, just like your country is here." TOURISTS LOOKING AT CLINTON SOUVENIRS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JENNIFER BENT, TOURIST FROM GEORGIA, SAYING: "It has been rough, but I'm looking forward to it coming to an end on November 8." TRUMP PAPER DOLL WOMAN AND CHILD LOOKING AT PAPER DOLLS SHOPPERS WALKING BY TRUMP TEE-SHIRTS TRUMP PINS PAN SHOT ELECTION SOUVENIRS
- Embargoed: 9th November 2016 17:16
- Keywords: Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Republicans Democrats souvenirs presidential election
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00155I8TAF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: With the U.S. presidential election just two weeks away, tourists in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday (October 25) rushed to buy last-minute election souvenirs, from Donald Trump bobblehead dolls to Hillary Clinton peppermints.
But while enthusiasm for the quirky knick-knacks was high, many said they were eager to see the race come to an end on November 8.
"It has been quite the circus, unfortunately, and it's quite embarrassing for Americans to be witnessing such things," said Lisa Osterdock of California as she browsed the store White House Gifts.
According to store owner Jim Warlick, business has spiked over the past few weeks, with souvenirs of Clinton, the Democratic nominee, outselling those of Republican rival Trump 70 to 30.
He said he noticed a drop off in Trump merchandise sales following the emergence of a video showing the candidate engaged in lewd talk about women.
The store's most popular election items include Clinton's "I'm With Her" tee-shirts and buttons and Trump's "Make America Great Again" hats.
One shopper said he was "a little bit" disappointed not to see paraphernalia for his third-party candidate, Gary Johnson, on the shelves.
"I know how it goes with every election -- Republican, Democrat," shrugged Hector Lopez of Arizona.
A tourist from Czech Republic said she had watched all three presidential debates and was looking forward to the election results.
"It's interesting to see how the population of Americans abroad is also divided," remarked Agnieszka Widmann. "People that we're friends with that we would have never said that they will be so emotional about this election, they are really split as well, just like your country is here."
As Jennifer Bent shopped for souvenirs to bring home to friends in Georgia, she mused, "It has been rough, but I'm looking forward to it coming to an end on November 8!" - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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