You ca n’t visit a Halloween store without seeing the vinyl radical mug of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney . Dressing up as the incumbent chairwoman on October 31 dates back to the 1960s at least , though some dear political figures , like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln , have been imitated long after their administrations . turn over whether to crop up as your favorite presidential candidate this year ? Read more about political Halloween masquerade before you cast your vote .
1. The Election Before the Election
Most Halloween masks are produced overseas in January or February , so costume companionship have to omen which candidate will face off long before the primaries . Scott Morris , owner ofMorris Costumes , the humanity ’s largest costume middleman , started placing orders for this yr ’s festivities back in November 2011 .
The same guesswork has to be done when portend the yr ’s " it " costumes : Morris canvass upcoming blockbusters and animated features , including the directorial and star power behind the motion picture , to place the next class ’s edict . " The good thing about political masks is that you know you may keep selling the elected Chief Executive ’s mask for at least four year , " Morris say . " You just hope you buy more of the right one . "
2. But Don’t Worry, Someone Will Buy That John Kerry Mask
Even if a costume company makes a mistake and overbuys an unpopular political mask , there ’s a special place where someone will buy anything . And that place is called the Internet . " I do n’t get it . I do n’t know what people could maybe be doing with them , " says Morris . " But there ’s a buyer for everything in this populace . "
3. Not All Presidents Have Mask Appeal
Getty Images
Political masks are especially popular in an election year , but not all presidential masks are equally popular . Even decade after Watergate , most Americans have view a Richard Nixon mask . A client recently involve Morris where he could buy a John F. Kennedy mask . ( Psst!Here are a few on eBay . ) But no one wants to trick or treat dressed up like Gerald Ford .
masquerade party appeal is part a combination of being physically distinct and fun to caricature . It also comes from staying in the spotlight . An outgoing personality — or even a malicious gossip — is a corking fashion to keep your semblance on sale at a costume stock . " I ’ll be sell Bill Clinton masks for the next 30 or 40 age ! " Morris enjoin .
Sometimes Halloween aureole is n’t just for the commander - in - foreman . First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Hillary Clinton both have their own masks . Soft - speak former First Lady Laura Bush was left out of the play .
( Interesting tidbit : Political mask of womanhood do n’t trade as well as those of men for a few reason . One reason is that there just are n’t as many female political leader or masks of them . Another is that women very rarely wear Halloween mask , which even Morris admit are n’t the most comfortable accessory . )
4.The Spectacle Is Political
We wondered if Halloween partygoer in this factious political climate are more likely to dress up as campaigner they do it or detest . Morris believe that most the great unwashed dress up as politicians they be intimate , despite the fact that Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein mask have been popular in recent decades . A recentPsychology Todaystoryposits that adults are " more likely to wear out masquerade party that convey fright than admiration . "
Either style , dressing up as a politician picture an emotional investment in that somebody . " Halloween is transgressive at its warmness , so it ’s the pure vacation for political satire , " sound out Lesley Bannatyne , author ofHalloween commonwealth : Behind the Scenes of America ’s Fright Night .
Because costume company take lead time for production , they ca n’t immediately react to the most topical political gaffes come late October . Fortunately , creative revelers can . " I numerate 63 shotgun - toting Sarah Palins at the 2008 NYC Village Halloween parade , " Bannatybe order . " I expect to see menace Big Birds and binder full of women this twelvemonth . "
5. An American Masktime
Though a flying Internet search yields masque of the British royals and former Prime Minister Tony Blair , Morris says that political Halloween masks stay home . After all , who wants to have to explicate his mask to people who are n’t well - versed in foreign personal matters ? Certainly not the guy at the haunt house trying to pick up the woman dressed as aphrodisiac Eleanor Roosevelt . It stands to reason that Americans are most focused on who ’s going to run their home state , and emptor behavior at Halloween stores may be as accurate as the canvass . According to the national chain Spirit Halloween , masque sale haveaccurately predicted the gain presidential candidatefor every election since 1996 . As of last month , Obama had a comfortable 64 - 36 % sale lead . ( Of course , that was before his disastrous performance in the first debate . ) * * * Here ’s a question for international readers : Do mass in your land dress up as pol for Halloween , too ?
