# It's hard to get Obama signs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145 "2008-10-09T11:34:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/1 "2008-10-09T11:34:55Z")
I have ordered two signs online and not received them yet. I drove down to the campaign office and begged for one yesterday. The lady finally gave me one. She only had four. I thought he was raising tons of money. Are they not sending signs to Ohio? Or maybe just not to northeast Ohio? It’s weird. I live in a conservative community–you would think they would want to blanket the town with Obama signs if possible. I practically had to promise her my first-born. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/2 "2008-10-09T12:19:01Z")
Just conjecture on my part, but perhaps the campaign thinks money spent on other media gets a better bang for the buck. I could see them doing just enough signs to maintain a visual presence, while spending most of their money on TV, radio, phone banks, etc. Personally, I never tried to get an Obama sign, as I worried that people would vote against him based on the condition of my yard. I’ve heard enough people say stuff like, “this idiot with an Abe Lincoln bumper sticker cut me off on the interstate this morning, so I’m voting for Stephen Douglas”. :dubious: Like one of the teeming millions of assholes on the planet is enough to overcome all their beliefs and reasoning. So, I just mail a small donation and proselytize friends and family and cast my ballot. But you _did_ get your sign…and you didn’t really have to give up your first-born after all! ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/3 "2008-10-09T15:34:00Z")
The problem might actually be a limited supply because of production, not because the campaign does not like yard signs. I waited over a month for my car magnet. I was sent an email stating that the demand outstripped expectations and it was taking a while to fulfill the paying orders for the magnet. I have see many yard signs, and in different designs. It is entirely possible that the signs are heavier demand than expected. Of course, I am sure that they are buying every minute of TV ad time they can get. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/4 "2008-10-09T16:36:27Z")
It takes forever. I ordered one and some car magnets and it took about 3 weeks to get to me. Someone stole the sign off my lawn Labor Day weekend and we ordered a new one, and that one took only 2 weeks, but it felt longer, since we were so angry about the first sign being stolen. Now I’m just hoping the new sign stays put until after Election Day. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/5 "2008-10-09T16:39:25Z")
_eye twitch_ ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/6 "2008-10-09T16:40:26Z")
It’s probably because all the signs are in Ann Arbor. I think we may be bogarting the whole lot of them. It seems that way when you walk down the street, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/7 "2008-10-09T17:05:02Z")
With the election as soon as it is, you may wish to buy poster board and a marker. Nothing says you can’t make your own signs. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/8 "2008-10-09T17:26:44Z")
[In case something from an earlier discussion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=486157) would be of benefit to you. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/9 "2008-10-09T19:35:45Z")
Okay, now that I came off the ceiling, we hate lawn signs. If lawn signs won campaigns, Ron Paul would be president right now. I will vent more after the election. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/10 "2008-10-09T21:48:26Z")
I noticed that the Obama sign across the street is missing. I hope it wasn’t stolen. There are two McCain signs nearby untouched. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/11 "2008-10-09T21:51:14Z")
> [@Tamex](#): > > I noticed that the Obama sign across the street is missing. I hope it wasn’t stolen. There are two McCain signs nearby untouched. There are two reasons for sign theft: envy and hate. Either someone relocates the sign or someone is not a supporter and rips them out. I’ve personally replanted McCain signs and other local election signs that someone has pulled up and tossed in the street. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/12 "2008-10-09T23:15:45Z")
We finally had to find a local vendor who would make some for us. We got in 400 signs, and were down to 150 in a single day. We’ve got a few hundred more we’re expecting shortly – who knows how long those will last. They were about twice as much to purchase locally than through the campaign, but at least we _have_ some now. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/13 "2008-10-09T23:57:07Z")
Yeah, we’ve had batches of 250 and been out within three days. We started keeping a list, but it got way too unmanageable, even if we did get some in, so we just scrapped it. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/14 "2008-10-10T00:02:22Z")
Why don’t you make your own? It means more to me than pre-printed ones to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/15 "2008-10-10T00:21:09Z")
> [@Omegaman](#): > > Why don’t you make your own? It means more to me than pre-printed ones to be sure. We’d rather get them to the folks, but if people want them and they’re unavailable, we’re certainly not going to tell people that they CAN’T make their own. You know what means more than lawn signs? [Knocking doors](http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/breaking-obama-campaign-organizers.html). ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/16 "2008-10-10T01:20:03Z")
I just got mine yesterday! Took a little less than three weeks. I’m still waiting for my Al Franken for Senate sign, and I put the online order for that a month ago, then pestered the volunteer caller a couple weeks ago to send me one. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/17 "2008-10-10T02:12:44Z")
The national campaign isn’t particularly fond of yard signs. It’s not one of their key strategies, mostly because lawn signs don’t vote. They’d much rather people volunteer to canvass or phonebank, because it’s the person-to-person stuff that changes people’s minds, not passing a lawn sign at 40 mph. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/18 "2008-10-11T03:15:32Z")
New policy in the office: you can get one sign. You get the option to buy another if you sign up to volunteer. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/19 "2008-10-20T14:08:09Z")
> [@Lillith\_Fair](#): > > Are they not sending signs to Ohio? Or maybe just not to northeast Ohio? Not to Northeast Ohio, according to the folks at the local Obama office. I even canvassed for Obama, and couldn’t get a sign. I live in solidly blue South Euclid, and McCain-Palin signs far outnumber Obama signs. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-hard-to-get-obama-signs/467145/20 "2008-10-20T14:23:24Z")
I spent yesterday driving around rural northwestern Ohio, up as far as Bryan (the county seat in the northwest corner). I would expect it to be Republican territory, and the McCain-Palin yard signs certainly outnumbered the Obama-Biden signs. However, on the courthouse squares (I was photographing county courthouses), of the nine county seats that I stopped in, I found three Obama campaign offices and no McCain campaign offices. So I remain optimistic that Obama will win Ohio.