Halloween mask sales a predictor of the presidential race? - KOAM TV 7

From soccer moms to American vets, polling tries to cover every angle of American voters this election season.

A national Halloween chain says there's also a correlation between the sale of masks of presidential candidates and who will win the race.  The most popular mask is the presidential pick.

Spirit Halloween says their poll has correctly predicted the presidential race every year since 1996.

The Spirit Halloween chain has 1,000 stores nationwide and admit their methods may not be scientific, but they have proved accurate in the past.

So far, Spirit says the Obama mask is outselling Romney 60% to 40%.

"We do steadily sell them, two or three at least a week, and probably 85% of the costumers try them on just to get a laugh off of it," says Eric Myers, the manager of Spirit Halloween in Joplin.

The Jasper County Republican headquarters says they are not scared of this particular poll.

"I would think that the more masks that were sold for a candidate that would be the people who didn't like the candidate," says Jimmy Morris from the Jasper County Republican Headquarters.  "I don't know, if I was going to dress up for Halloween as somebody scary I would want to be scary - I'd want to be the other guy."

Though the manager at the Spirit store in Joplin seems skeptical that these masks will have any effect this election season, he does say that Big Bird is one costume this season that he cannot keep on the shelf.

"Sesame Street is making a big comeback," says Myers.  "Honestly, Big Bird, we have a 'Sexy Big Bird' costume as well and we can't keep those on the shelves.  As soon as we get them they are right back out the door."

The big yellow bird's popularity does not come as a shock to the southwest Democrats.

"They're probably trying to get as much Big Bird stuff as possible before Mitt Romney kills him," says Jordan Overstreet of the Southwest Missouri Democrats.

So as scary as this presidential season already is, it's about to get even spookier as Romney and Obama look-alikes start showing up on Four State residents doorsteps.