Politics for sale

A group of tables in Presentation Hall is covered with merchandise hyping September's Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

St. Croix Promotions and Retail Inc. of Bloomington is the official licensee for all RNC products, according to account executive Casey McCullough. The big sellers so far Friday, McCullough says: sweatshirts and jackets to ward off the chill.

St. Croix is selling everything from T-shirts and hats to red-white-and-blue plush elephants.

Oh, and a device called a "Loon Tune" which, when you pull the handles, emits the shrill cry of Minnesota's state bird.

RNC merchandise will be available all over the Twin Cities during the convention, which runs Sept. 1-4. Stores will be set up at the Xcel Energy Center, in delegate hotels, at the Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Can't wait? Check out the Web site: http://www.rncgear.com.