The Candidate’s New Clothes.

The business of politics has shifted its focus (at least momentarily) to the fashion industry.

The New York TImes reports that Vice Presidential Candidate, Sarah Palin (and her family members), was the recipient of quite the shopping spree.

Reports from the Republican National Committee indicate that some $150,000 was spent to outfit Ms. Palin and her family, so to equip them with the clothing necessary to wage a nationwide campaign.

The receipts show that, in September, the RNC shelled out some $75,062 at Neiman Marcus and $49,425 at Saks Fifth Avenue

These expenditures are legitimate(ish) campaign costs of the RNC – such an expense from the McCain-Palin fund would have been prohibited.

Almost 90% of the clothing in question was originally purchased was bought by Jeff Larson, who served as chief executive of the host committee for the Republican National Convention, in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Mr. Larson has since been reimbursed by the RNC for his expenditures (made at Neiman Marcus, Saks, Barneys and Atelier New York).

The RNC insists that at the end of the election all of the clothing will be donated to charity; if any items are retained, Governor Palin would have to pick up the cost of the garments as income.