Obama flip-flops a fashion disaster

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Experts appear to agree that flip-flops bearing the image of Barack Obama cannot be good for the U.S. senator's White House bid.

St. Louis University political science Professor Ken Warren said fashion products bearing the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate's image are likely playing right into the hands of his electoral opponent, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Thursday.

"The McCain camp is probably happy that Obama is on everything and that he's the focus. They want to make Obama the target and make him look like a celebrity -- someone who is good-looking, young and who gives great speeches but has no substance," Warren said.

Meanwhile, Washington University marketing Professor Michael Lewis says most Obama products could serve the Democrat well during the general election. Yet the Olin Business School official agreed the Obama flip-flops wouldn't be his first fashion choice.

"The people who want to wear his paraphernalia want to be different, so the clothes and objects available are a signal of his strength among this potential electorate," he told the Post-Dispatch.

"But about those flip-flops, that's just goofy," he added.