Democrats, apparently, are more likely to tchotchke up their lives than Republicans.

From bobble-heads to shot glasses, Obama’s face is selling like hot cakes.

In fact, he’s breaking the presidential souvenir record set by the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton.

T-shirts, caps, posters, coins, wooden puppets, buttons, “Hot 4 Barack” hot sauce, life-sized cutouts, dog sweaters and mouse pads lined the streets and shops in Washington, D.C., during Tuesday’s inauguration.

You can even get the “As see on TV,” inaugural plate bearing Obama’s face at Walgreens in Natchez.

Sales of Obama tchotchkes were expected to triple sales from Clinton’s inauguration.

President Reagan and both President Bushes hardly rank in the memories of D.C. souvenir salesmen.

Obviously a love of tchotchkes falls strictly along party lines.

But with each reproduction of Obama’s face, he seems to become a slightly different man.

From the looks of the shirts, plates and cups, some souvenir artists prefer to slightly alter Obama, instead of using photos that are in the public domain.

A nose job here, a face squeeze there — soon our new president and the man on the shirts don’t even look alike.

Combine the money making minds in the souvenir industry and a good printer and label-maker and we may soon have President Barack Obama “Yes we can” canned goods, stuffed Obama llamas and “Change we can believe in” motor oil.

But all these kitschy items may be Obama’s secret weapon in his undeclared war with the economy.

The New York Times was reporting a month ago that $200 million had already been spent on “Obamabilia.”

Our own newspaper had 300 photo-quality copies of the front page declaring Obama’s win printed up at the request of readers. They sold out at the rate of $4 each very quickly.

And newspapers across the country have already started reporting on the economic boom Obama souvenirs are making.

Obama and his team obviously know how to market. We all know that.

And the historical significance of his election is worthy of a tchotchke or two for many people.

But why, in a failing economy, are people willing to buy a commemorative “Victory” plate for $19.95 when they are skipping the steaks for the chicken at the market?

Obama has convinced America to hope.

We all hope he can fix the economy. We hope he can end the war. We hope he can save the environment.

And to America that hope is worth $19.95. We’ll eat steak when the stock market rebounds for good.

But right now, like the TV says, is a one-time opportunity to get a piece of history. Right?

Well, not exactly. But it’s working anyway.

We’ll have to wait for the next Republican president to make a final call on the partisanship of tchotchkes, but for now, the Democrats are winning the bobble-head election.

And America is filling its china cabinets full of Barack Obama hope.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.finley@natchezdemocrat.com.