Retiree invests in 'Obama Wins' newspapers

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A stock trader and retired customs agent in Washington state acquired 10,000 copies of Wednesday's edition of The Bellingham Herald as an investment.

Thomas Baldwin of Birch Bay told the newspaper he expects the copies with the "Obama Wins" banner headline to appreciate in value. Baldwin paid 17 cents for each copy or a total of $1,700 for his special order, run off after the regular print run.

"I sat there thinking about that and I thought, 'You know, what the heck, maybe there's a market for it,'" Baldwin said.

He said he was inspired by a California friend who sells old newspapers at trade shows and flea markets.

Newsstands across the country reported a spike in sales with many people buying multiple copies of newspapers -- in some cases saying they wanted the papers for their grandchildren.

Baldwin said that he decided to vote for Democrat Barack Obama this year instead of his usual choice, Ralph Nader.