The Correlation Between Halloween and Presidential Politics
Election Day is November 4 this year, just four days after Halloween. Do the choices adults make in their Halloween costumes have any relationship to the election results?
This year Halloween retailers are saying there is an explosion of orders for Barack Obama Masks, John McCain masks and Sarah Palin costumes. Since Obama and McCain basically wear suits, there is no real need for a complicated costume. A standard dress suit worn with a purchased mask does the trick. Go online and look at pictures of your favorite presidential candidate. Pay close attention to the type of shoe, shirt and tie he typically wears. You might even want to add a campaign button to promote your favorite party.
A Sarah Palin costume consists of the “beehive” wig, glasses, and a campaign button. Depending on whether the purchaser is pro or con Palin, they might add some other touches. What are people saying when they don these costumes? Sarah Palin supporters will show her competency. A business suit, a tasteful brooch or simple necklace, and those hot high heeled shoes make a great costume for a Palin supporter. On the other hand, those wanting to spoof Palin are wearing a tiara, a beauty pageant ribbon, or they have her toting a gun for one of her legendary hunting trips. As they say, the accessories are everything.
Many believe that the candidate whose costume sells the best is the one that will win the election. So, is there any real evidence of that? A major survey is conducted each election year. The Spirit Halloween Presidential Index has shown results that would indicate that it might be accurate over the past few years. In 2004, the George W. Bush mask outsold the John Kerry mask; in 2000, the George W. Bush mask outsold the Al Gore mask, and in 1996 the Clinton mask heavily outsold the Bob Dole mask. Coincidence? It will be interesting to see whether this year follows that trend.
The mask factor is good news for Obama so far. After the first month of Halloween 2008, Barack Obama and John McCain mask sales show Obama is leading at 67% while McCain has 33%. There is still a month until election day so anything can happen during that time.
Most important, regardless of which candidate you support, remember to “Get Out and Vote”. Voting is a privilege in our society. Nothing is more important than casting your vote on election day. Remember, the election was decided in 2004 by an extremely small margin - every vote does make a difference. So support your favorite candidate by buying his mask for Halloween and then voting for him on November 4.
Tags: Halloween