In this see-saw, come-from-behind campaign season, few people think about the luckless entrepreneurs who got stuck with truckloads of T-shirts, campaign buttons and bumper stickers bearing the names of — there's no other way to put it — losers. Edwards, Kucinich, Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee, Dodd, Richardson and, soon, Hillary.

Brian Harlin, who had the contract to run Mitt Romney's online store, is no fool, reports the Wall Street Journal:

Many of the items sold on RomneyShop.com didn't have a date attached to them. So instead of designing a T-shirt with "Romney for President 2008," it simply said "Romney for President." With Mr. Romney rumored to be considering a run in 2012 or 2016, the merchandise retains its value. "This all can be used again," Mr. Harlin said.

Four weeks after Mr. Romney withdrew from the presidential race, Mr. Harlin sent out an email blast declaring "Romney Shop Sale Begins Today!" The message read: "This is a great opportunity to stock up for future campaigns."

Maura Statman, who ran Fred Thompson's online store, blew it: She has several thousand T-shirts, stickers and buttons that read "Fred '08."

To at least claim a tax credit, Statman gave the clothing to homeless shelters:

[Homeless people] may be seen on the street wearing hoodies that say 'Fred,' but hey, it's brand-new clothing."