Hillary Clinton, Christie surge ahead in 2016 merchandise contest

They haven’t even thrown their hats into the ring, but Hillary Clinton and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are leading the pack of 2016 contenders, if the number of user-created products on one website is any indication.

CafePress.com, which sells items designed by regular joes, including t-shirts, bumper stickers, and signs, says more folks have created Clinton and Christie 2016 gear than any other potential White House hopeful.

The former secretary of State — who has not announced any intention to run — smashes other potential Democratic candidates to smithereens on the site, with nearly 54,000 products tagged “Hillary 2016.” 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) comes in a very distant second place, with about 6,200 products, trailed by Vice President Biden with 3,221 doo-dads. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo takes the fourth place spot among Democrats with 2,744 items and Sen. Mark Warner (Va.) gets just a sliver of love from CafePress users with less than 300 goodies (241 to be precise) for sale.

On the GOP side, Christie — who, like Clinton has not said whether he’ll run in three years — crushes the competition, with about 20,000 different knick-knacks up for grabs. Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), who was the center of veepstakes buzz last year, trails the Garden State politician by more than 10,000 products, with some 7,600 bearing his name or image. 

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dr. Ben Carson are virtually tied for third place in the tally, with about 6,000 pieces of merchandise each. 

Rounding out the rest of the maybe-Republican 2016 candidates: former vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.), former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Sen. John Thune (S.D.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) makes a slight dent in the CafePress race with 1,110 products.

Photos: CafePress.com