Obama-mania creates one-man stimulus package

WASHINGTON — As the federal government tries to revive the nation's ailing economy, President-elect Barack Obama is proving to be a one-man stimulus package.

Tight-fisted consumers are separating themselves from their cash for Obama memorabilia, for travel to witness his Jan. 20 inauguration and even for rental housing in the Washington area as hotel rooms are becoming hard to find.

"He's a cottage industry," said James Fisher, a marketing professor at St. Louis University. "Obviously, being the first African-American (elected president) makes it historic. People are trying to purchase a piece of history — or sell it."

Everyone — from street vendors hawking Obama T-shirts to major American corporations — is vying for a piece of the action. Southwest Airlines, US Airways, JetBlue and Virgin America are adding flights and bigger planes beginning Jan. 17 to accommodate the millions of people who are expected to come into Washington's three airports for inaugural festivities.

"Flights are filling up, and Southwest wants to offer our customers more service into the D.C. area for the inauguration celebration," said Pete McGlade, the airline's vice president of schedule planning.

The crunch on Washington's hotels, bed and breakfasts and hostels for inauguration week prompted Andre Butters to create a Web site, www.inauguralhomes.com, about 10 days ago. He hopes to cash in on the demand for private housing or apartment rentals around the nation's capital.

The site's main page features a picture of a smiling Obama with the Capitol behind him and the line "Get the ultimate inaugural experience by renting a DC area home."

Butters charges $9 to list available properties — he has about 140 so far — but plans to raise his fees after Thanksgiving. His site is getting 10,000 visits a day.

"Obama is great for business," said Butters, who decided to create the site after agreeing to house 10 relatives in his two-bedroom, one-bath suburban Washington apartment for Obama's inauguration. "I've talked to thousands of people so far. We're hearing from people in France, India, China. It's one of the things where there's a demand on both sides: People here need money and some people need housing."

Interest in all things Obama is making money for the media. Newspapers such as The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times have made millions of dollars selling front-page reprints of Obama's victory, along with coffee mugs, T-shirts and press plates featuring the president-elect.