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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Election omens: costumes and cookies take the place of polls and statistics | Election omens: costumes and cookies take the place of polls and statistics |
| (4 months later) | |
| The final polls are in. But there are hours to go before we get any results. So what's nervous campaign team – and media organization with airtime to fill – to do before then? Turn to superstition, of course. Here are the best of the election omens. | The final polls are in. But there are hours to go before we get any results. So what's nervous campaign team – and media organization with airtime to fill – to do before then? Turn to superstition, of course. Here are the best of the election omens. |
| Redskins Rule | Redskins Rule |
| It wouldn't be the United States without an athletic-based election omen and one of the most trusted superstitions is the results of the Washington Redskins football game the Sunday before the election. | It wouldn't be the United States without an athletic-based election omen and one of the most trusted superstitions is the results of the Washington Redskins football game the Sunday before the election. |
| The superstition states that if the Redskins win, the incumbent candidate will win. The only time the rule was disproved since it began in 1940 was when George W Bush was re-elected in 2004. | The superstition states that if the Redskins win, the incumbent candidate will win. The only time the rule was disproved since it began in 1940 was when George W Bush was re-elected in 2004. |
| The top athletic presidential predictor passed this Sunday and the Redskins 6-3 loss predicts a Romney presidency. | The top athletic presidential predictor passed this Sunday and the Redskins 6-3 loss predicts a Romney presidency. |
| Accuracy: 17/18 elections 2012 winner: Mitt Romney | Accuracy: 17/18 elections 2012 winner: Mitt Romney |
| Family Circle first lady cookie contest | Family Circle first lady cookie contest |
| You'd be forgiven for doubting this actually exists, but you'd also be very, very wrong. | You'd be forgiven for doubting this actually exists, but you'd also be very, very wrong. |
| The classic women's magazine Family Circle started pitting the first ladies top cookie recipe against each other in 1992 with Barbara Bush v Hillary Clinton. | The classic women's magazine Family Circle started pitting the first ladies top cookie recipe against each other in 1992 with Barbara Bush v Hillary Clinton. |
| The recipes are published by the magazine and then voted on by people who are encouraged to bake and taste test them at home. This year more than 9,000 people voted in the contest, and vegetable-pusher Michelle Obama's white and dark chocolate chip cookies came out on top. | The recipes are published by the magazine and then voted on by people who are encouraged to bake and taste test them at home. This year more than 9,000 people voted in the contest, and vegetable-pusher Michelle Obama's white and dark chocolate chip cookies came out on top. |
| Ann Romney's M&M cookies lost by 287 votes, the magazine's smallest margin yet. | Ann Romney's M&M cookies lost by 287 votes, the magazine's smallest margin yet. |
| There was controversy in 2008 when Cindy McCain won with a potentially plagiarized recipe. Her success trumped FLOTUS' decidedly elitist citrus and amaretto-laced shortbread cookies – the one time the contest loser made it into the White House. | There was controversy in 2008 when Cindy McCain won with a potentially plagiarized recipe. Her success trumped FLOTUS' decidedly elitist citrus and amaretto-laced shortbread cookies – the one time the contest loser made it into the White House. |
| Accuracy: 4/5 elections 2012 winner: Barack Obama | Accuracy: 4/5 elections 2012 winner: Barack Obama |
| Halloween masks | Halloween masks |
| This election predictor claims that the candidate whose likeness sells the most masks at major costume purveyors will be voted into the White House. | This election predictor claims that the candidate whose likeness sells the most masks at major costume purveyors will be voted into the White House. |
| The largest seasonal Halloween retailer in the US, Spirit Halloween, started following mask sales in 1996 and every candidate to win the sales game has made it into the White House since. | The largest seasonal Halloween retailer in the US, Spirit Halloween, started following mask sales in 1996 and every candidate to win the sales game has made it into the White House since. |
| This year, Spirit Halloween reported that Obama masks outsold Romney masks by a 60% to 40% margin. Obama was ahead of John McCain with the same margin in 2008. | This year, Spirit Halloween reported that Obama masks outsold Romney masks by a 60% to 40% margin. Obama was ahead of John McCain with the same margin in 2008. |
| Year-round costume seller BuyCostumes.com started charting winners in 2000, and has been accurate ever since. To cast a vote on their online poll, people must purchase a mask for the candidate of their choice, the cheapest mask is a .99 cent paper mask. | Year-round costume seller BuyCostumes.com started charting winners in 2000, and has been accurate ever since. To cast a vote on their online poll, people must purchase a mask for the candidate of their choice, the cheapest mask is a .99 cent paper mask. |
| Accuracy: Spirit: 4/4 elections • BuyCostumes.com: 3/3 elections 2012 winner: Mitt Romney | Accuracy: Spirit: 4/4 elections • BuyCostumes.com: 3/3 elections 2012 winner: Mitt Romney |
| Children | Children |
| Scholastic News has been polling children since 1940 and all but two of their polls predicted the president accurately. | Scholastic News has been polling children since 1940 and all but two of their polls predicted the president accurately. |
| Kids incorrectly voted in favor of Thomas E Dewey over Harry S Truman in 1948 and Richard Nixon over John F Kennedy in 1960. | Kids incorrectly voted in favor of Thomas E Dewey over Harry S Truman in 1948 and Richard Nixon over John F Kennedy in 1960. |
| More than 250,000 minors voted between 15 August to October 10 this year and Barack Obama won 51 percent of the vote. | More than 250,000 minors voted between 15 August to October 10 this year and Barack Obama won 51 percent of the vote. |
| Unlike other election superstitions, the kids poll allows kids to choose someone other than the major party candidate. | Unlike other election superstitions, the kids poll allows kids to choose someone other than the major party candidate. |
| In this year's data set, the most kids to vote for someone other than the major party candidates were in crucial swing state Ohio, where 7% did not vote for Romney or Obama. The major party success in Ohio was Obama who beat Romney with 50% to the governor's 43%. | In this year's data set, the most kids to vote for someone other than the major party candidates were in crucial swing state Ohio, where 7% did not vote for Romney or Obama. The major party success in Ohio was Obama who beat Romney with 50% to the governor's 43%. |
| Nickelodeon's Kids Pick the President also put Obama ahead with more than half a million votes cast. Obama handily beat Romney 65% to 35% – this may be because Romney ditched the television special connected to the poll. | Nickelodeon's Kids Pick the President also put Obama ahead with more than half a million votes cast. Obama handily beat Romney 65% to 35% – this may be because Romney ditched the television special connected to the poll. |
| Accuracy: Scholastic: 15/17 • Nickelodeon: 5/6 2012 winner: Barack Obama | Accuracy: Scholastic: 15/17 • Nickelodeon: 5/6 2012 winner: Barack Obama |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |