Michelle Obama wore a necklace that spelled out VOTE while speaking at the virtual Democratic National Convention on Monday night. Video screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNETThis story is part of Elections 2020, CNET’s coverage of the run-up to voting in November. When Michelle Obama spoke at the virtual Democratic National ConventionΒ Monday night, her necklace sent a message that captured many viewers’ attention. Obama, the final speaker during the DNC’s first night, discussed the importance of voting in this fall’s presidential election while wearing a gold necklace that spelled out V-O-T-E.Β She encouraged listeners to register to vote and to “vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris like our lives depend on it.”After her speech, there was such buzz about her jewelry its designer quickly offered it for sale online. While Obama never mentioned the jewelry, and the necklace was subtle, many viewers not only noticed but wanted one of their own. As soon as her speech ended, social media users began posting asking where they could buy the necklace. A representative for Los Angeles-based jewelry business By Chari confirmed Monday night that the necklace is part of the company’s custom collection, which allows buyers to spell out a name or other word on the necklace. After Obama’s speech, the company quickly added the specific VOTE necklace to its website, priced at $295 (about Β£223, AU$407).”So many people have been buying it (since Obama’s speech),” the By Chari representative told me via email. The catalog copy doesn’t mention Obama, but calls the
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