American consumers can show support for their candidate by purchasing T-shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, posters, pins and hats featuring the names “Barack Obama” or “John McCain.” MTV’s Kentucky reporter, Lauren, went to a local clothing store to see which candidate was connecting better with shoppers:

“Gene Pierce (25) works retail at a local clothing store which has Obama and McCain shirts and hats for sale. She says that Obama paraphernalia is pretty trendy among the 30 and younger crowd … and not much McCain stuff is actually sold in comparison.

But is this because there are more Obama items to buy? I saw shirts in a variety of colors with several slogans on them, and they were more than just your average Joe t-shirts. They were really cute! From polos to tank tops, Obama was everywhere. McCain … he had a white t-shirt and a navy one that looked like a carbon copy of one another … not one baby doll style shirt in sight.

How does this [the paraphernalia] relate to who is selectable? Pierce says she is normally a conservative voter, but this time around, she might jump on the Obama train. ‘Yeah, he [Obama] has better looking stuff, and he seems like he can relate to me.’”

Campaign Trail Talk would like to remind you that July T-shirt sales in Kentucky are not necessarily a reflection of national political trends or an accurate forecast of the November election results. But please let us know which T-shirt you’d buy.

For more, see “Dress Up and Support Your Candidate.”

As part of its U.S. elections coverage, Campaign Trail Talk features reports from MTV’s 51 youth reporters, one from every state and the District of Columbia, who provide regular Internet updates on political issues that matter to their generation.