{"id":18499,"date":"2015-10-07T13:46:58","date_gmt":"2015-10-07T13:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/presidential-primaries-awash-in-promotional-products\/"},"modified":"2022-11-23T16:40:32","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T22:40:32","slug":"presidential-primaries-awash-in-promotional-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.ipromo.com\/presidential-primaries-awash-in-promotional-products\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidential primaries awash in promotional products"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The upcoming 2016 presidential election is still more than a year away, but the debates started months ago. Meanwhile, the cast of Saturday Night Live is already impersonating and mocking the candidates every weekend. Whether you like politics or not, America is stuck with primaries, polls and stump speeches until next November.<\/p>\n

But whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or in favor of a third-party candidate, you might remember some electioneering fondly. You most likely remember the first time you received a campaign button, bumper sticker or branded T-shirt.<\/p>\n

Storied election swag and big spenders<\/strong>
\nSome designs, slogans and promotional buttons like “I like Ike” or “What – Me Worry? I’m Voting Mad Alfred E. Neuman for President” are now considered iconic<\/a>, according to style blog A Continuous Lean.<\/p>\n

Election year is a treasure trove for branded hats<\/a>, apparel and anything else that candidates can use to get their names out to the public. The color and design of yard signs and candidate logos are scrutinized down to the most minute detail. Presidential races can cost billions of dollars and Bloomberg View anticipates the candidates, parties and political action groups will spend a total of $10 billion<\/a> on the 2016 election. Meanwhile, the Advertising Specialty Institute projected that candidates spent approximately $870 million<\/a> on promotional items for their campaigns in 2012.<\/p>\n

Branded items can play a big part in getting a politician noticed.<\/p>\n

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\nNext year’s presidential election includes the traditional campaign buttons but also boasts some odd promotional offerings.<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Bizarre promotions<\/strong>
\nHowever, besides the traditional branded campaign items like buttons, hats and signs, there’s a wacky side to presidential promotional items. This election season’s crop of candidates hopes to raise funds for their White House runs by giving these products as a thank you to donating to their campaign. But what seem like a bizarre branded product could get a candidate some media attention and impressions during the caucus and primaries. With six Democrats and 15 Republicans in the race for president, these politicians could use some novel promotional items to stand out.<\/p>\n

Six of the current presidential candidates made the ASI’s “Top 10 Wildest Presidential Primary Promo Products” list, which is a mouthful of alliteration to say out loud as well as a list of the oddest offerings so far this election season.<\/p>\n

Some highlights from the list include:<\/p>\n