Personal promotion and party zealots
As an observer seeing the US Democratic Party's national convention for the first time, I have been witness this week to a sort of cult of personality.
Sellers have lined up every morning outside the Charlotte Convention Center, in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Democrats are holding their national convention, and peddled a dazzling array of souvenirs related to US President Barack Obama: portraits, T-shirts, caps, aprons, mugs, golf balls and children's books.
Their wares also include buttons representing people in almost any imaginable line of work or group, from Truckers for Obama, Bartenders for Obama, Contractors for Obama, Fishermen for Obama and Realtors for Obama to Surfers for Obama, Hipsters for Obama and Cat Lovers for Obama.
