Designs for Democracy

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"In the final presidential debate, the candidates were talking about Joe the Plumber. Thousands of Joe the Plumber-themed pieces of merchandise were uploaded by the next morning," says CafePress' Maniatis. "It was the same thing with Sarah Palin and her joke about a pit bull and a hockey mom. When she made that speech, we had under 1,000 Palin and McCain products. Within a day it went to 100,000, and now we have 864,000. People are involved and engaged. Whether they're expressing support or consternation, they're doing it with merchandise."

Far Left Meets Far Right

Indeed, the CafePress Election 2008 marketplace is probably one of the only places where you can buy a T-shirt with the slogan "Give al-Qaeda a Chance. Vote Barack Obama" along with a button declaring "Obama: This time I want a Smart President." The design melting point reflects the far reach, deep interest, and polarizing opinions surrounding this intensely scrutinized election. "People from the far, far right come together with people from the far, far left to shop and create," says Maniatis, who outlines CafePress' tolerance policy as steering clear of "too much love, too much hate." In some instances, canny shopkeepers are offering anything they think might sell, for and against all candidates and their campaigns.

Some, meanwhile, have taken the opportunity to use their design skills to support both their candidate of choice and their creative urges. Minneapolis designer Tia Salmela Keobounpheng designed a series of jewelry items using the Obama logo as inspiration . "As a working mother who doesn't always have time to give for volunteering, and someone whose monthly budget is too tight to make regular donations to a political campaign, I have found a way to do what I do and be able to give back to Obama's campaign," she says of her designs. Keobounpheng donates a small sum with each purchase.

For now, creating provocative Republican-supporting souvenirs has become Bostic's main source of income and his venture remains solely for-profit. "I don't like getting into specifics about sales or income, but I will say that September was amazing," he writes in an e-mail. "I made more money in one month selling these shirts and bumper stickers than I ever took home in a month owning a mortgage company." Come Nov. 5, of course, Bostic will reevaluate. "I'm considering going to law school next fall," he says. "But American Elephant will continue regardless. There will always be a market for conservative merchandise, and I definitely will continue voicing my opinion."

Helen Walters is the editor for BusinessWeek.com's Innovation and Design Channel .