Politicians and pundits have been telling us that campaign 2004 is all about choice. For those of us who elect to be fashionable and have strong feelings about getting out the vote or about the presidential candidates, dressing can be all about choice, too.

In this election year, you can wear your political heart on your sleeve -- or on your T-shirt, your hat, your buckle ...

When P. Diddy takes a "Vote or Die" message to the Democratic National Convention, people notice -- especially when the rapper also known as clothing entrepreneur Sean Combs wears the words emblazoned in big bold letters on a bright white T-shirt.

Diddy/Combs is using his ability to get out the apparel to also get out the message, and he's not alone.

Designer Kenneth Cole has made a place for himself among the bigwigs of the Democratic Party with his politically charged runway shows and his marriage to Mario Cuomo's daughter, plus his major donations to the Democratic National Committee. Cole is known for his tough-minded advertising campaigns, which have featured gun control and pro-choice messages.

And if all of that didn't make his politics clear, after the 2000 election, Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. ran an ad that showed the intersection of Bush Avenue and Cheney Lane beside a road sign that read "Dead End."

Some people take style a bit more seriously than their politics -- at least when it comes to what they are wearing.

Little cotton-Lycra tee shirts, panties, thongs and "hot shorts" with a donkey or elephant outline in Swarovski crystals are selling big at Jeannette Russell's couture bridal salon in Sewickley. Made by Cotton Sisters, some designs spell out "Democrat" or "Republican" in crystals. The pieces -- all in red, white and/or blue -- range from $27 to $45.

"They're just sexy little underwear," said Russell. "Some are outerwear. The shirts they're wearing with jeans or skirts to political events. We've ordered them several times now and they've flown off the shelves.."

Rock the Vote, a nonprofit group known for its efforts to get young people to the polls, is getting a helping hand from other sartorial musicians and designers.

Where the message is "Empower women. Empower children. Vote," the vehicle is www.childishclothing.com, which offers limited-edition tanks and tees for moms-to-be and their kids while supporting Rock the Vote. Designed by Childish Clothing's founders Skye Hoppus, wife of blink-182 vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus, and Suzanne Mitchell, choices include tees featuring a USA flag with "Please Vote" lettering over it in either pink or blue with metallic silver accents for $32.

Also pushing political apparel is Hoppus' blink-182 bandmate, Tom Delonge. His Macbeth Shoes company has created a "Vote Me" tee, designed by Delonge and Brendan Raasch, drummer for the band Kut U Up. The $19.99 T-shirts help support Rock the Vote and are available at www.macbeth-shoes.com.

The Rock the Vote folks must have been rocking with rage earlier this year, when Urban Outfitters introduced a T-shirt with the slogan "Voting Is for Old People."

The negative reaction forced the retail chain, known for its hip clothing and housewares, to pull the shirts from stores.

Reporting on the marriage of fashion and politics, the Duke University newspaper searched eBay for the word "vote" and saw more than 40 results, including T-shirts featuring such Bush-bashing slogans as "Blood for Oil" and "Weapon of Mass Destruction."

For pro-Bush fashions, the Web site www.georgewbushstore.com/gwb04store.htm, carries the message "W '04" -- as in George "W." Bush, of course. Items, which include a $14.95 set of leather coasters and an $89 silver belt buckle, are by the Spalding Group, which bills itself as "the nation's premier provider of ... campaign related products and services, providing expert campaign marketing solutions exclusively to Republican candidates and organizations."

Whether it's a message pushing a particular presidential candidate or a plea to 18-and-overs to exercise their right to vote, there's a T shirt, shorts, pendant, hat -- let's just say an outfit -- to be had that says it all.

And don't think you've seen the last of P. Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign. Following his invasion of the Democrats' convention at Boston Fleet Center, he told MTV News his next stop will be New York's Madison Square Garden, where the Republicans will hold their national convention starting Aug. 30.