Goofy polls may have some benefit

[RedEarth]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Oddball surveys in the U.S. presidential race may be more entertaining than conventional polling, but analysts say they shouldn't be taken seriously.

Halloween costume seller BuyCostumes.com says George Bush masks have been outselling those of Democrat John Kerry by a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent, and CNN notes mask preference have accurately picked the winner every time since 1980.

"If people are buying more products that support Bush, it may ... suggest more confidence in the incumbent over Kerry," said Bob Burns, professor of political science at South Dakota State University. "On the other hand, if products supporting the opponent are selling better, it could be a sign of waning confidence in the incumbent."

Bush also leads Kerry in sales of a "Swing2Vote" box of two golf balls showing color photos of the candidates and the president is also ahead 1,756 to 1,245 in a "Vote with Beer" survey being conducted by Texas restaurant chain Flying Saucer.

But Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia, says there may be a beneficial side to these polls, offbeat as they may be.

http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/09240004aaa03d6f.upi&Sys=siteia&Fid=POLITICS&Type=News&Filter=Politics

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

1. More people buy Bush masks for Halloween

because Bush is much more scary than Kerry.

[Pirate Smile]

2. The Kerry mask doesn't even look like him.

[AndyTiedye]

12. Dick Cheney's Even More Scary

Certainly a lot scarier than any character Lon Cheney ever played.

[VegasWolf]

3. Oh wow!! Bush is ahead in a rich white sport and a mask

that scares little children. Let's just go home
now, its all over!!! How about a poll of people
with an IQ of over 130?

[wryter2000]

4. Welcome to DU, Wolf

A poll of folks with high IQ's would eliminate too many repugs to be valid.

[VegasWolf]

7. Thanks!! This is a fun group!

[fob]

13. I believe you mistyped a zero and the end of your last question.

IQ's of 14 and above should be able to figure this crap out, that leaves out a lot of voters, though not enough to re-select bush*.

[VegasWolf]

14. Yes! Thank you for catching that! All thumbs today!

[West Coast Democrat]

5. I would think that a lot of people who hate Bush* are buying his masks too

I mean, that seems like a no-brainer. Does the article mention that possibility?

[Carolab]

19. It's like that stupid

bobble-head doll vote. People admitted they were buying Bush dolls even though they were Kerry voters.

[ChrisK]

6. Yea , and everyone that had a "Tricky Dick" mask

loved him. Come on, there buying them because they want to be the first on there block to be the next "Jason" or "Freddy Kruger"..No one is buying them because they love Bush. He is a joke to millions in this country and seen as a fool and moron so there having some fun with it...it's not out of respect that people buy those, come on.

[lancdem]

15. Exactly

that was my first thought.

[bringbackfdr]

8. CNN - Wrong again

This foolishness did not accurately predict the outcome of the 2000 popular vote, since Gore indisputably won the popular vote. I assume anyone trying to attach science to this would claim it is a precursor to the popular vote, not the electoral college.

[Sinnerman]

16. True Poll show dead heat

I'm not paying attentionto polls. After debates Kerry will pick up 4-5 points going into November Which means we will Period

[yolatengo]

9. duh, maybe it's cuz Bush is SCARIER?

I'm sure Darth Vader masks sell better than Obi Wan masks. I guess that
naturally means American children dig evil dictatorial emperical overlords
over peaceful intelligent Jedis, right?

Maybe, just maybe, costume shoppers are thinking:

"Bush is the scariest motherf*cker in the whole world. Kerry doesn't
bring that chilling, halloween VIBE to a partay that psycho-nutbucket
Bush does...I'm going with the Bush mask!".

And maybe the beer the f*cking TEXAS Flying Saucer picked for the
two candidates is a little biased? Like piss-warm Piels in a can for
Kerry :puke: and Delirium Tremens :crazy: for Bush? There's only
so much Piels one can drink for their guy!

Bigby

[Melodybe]

10. Eddie Veder has a Bush mask, sometimes he wears it on stage

He has also "impaled" it on his mike stand and sung Dylan's Masters of War to it.

So I think that this article is stupid.

[calico1]

11. Nixon masks were very popular.

In fact I think it was probably the most popular President Halloween mask ever sold and it sold for years after he left office. So does that reflect love for Nixon? LOL.

There is actually another goofy poll which is more accurate. It has picked the winner since I believe the 1800's. The winner is the one with the most hair or best hair. The exception was when Eisenhower ran against Stevenson but neither one of them had hair!

[0007]

17. These numbers don't look for junior

MSNBC Poll numbers and still going strong.

Do you believe that except for a handful of cities Iraq is growing more peaceful and secure?

* 76316 responses

Yes 33%

No 67%

[last_texas_dem]

18. Ha

From the headline I thought maybe the article was talking about Gallup...

[NEDem]

20. I bought a * mask

But I also bought the inflatable 6 foot penis costume. I'm going to wear the costume and where my head sticks out I'm wearing my * mask. Going bar hopping on Halloween.

I might get beat up, I'll take my chances. I think it'll be fun to see peoples expressions when they see a six foot tall penis with *'s face on it come walking into the bar.