ANDOVER — With two debates down and less than a month to go until the election, the race for the presidency is neck and gingerbread neck at Perfecto’s Caffe.
Eight weeks into his cookie poll, owner Max Gabriello said Democratic nominee Barack Obama is carrying a slight lead over Republican rival John McCain.
Although the idea of the poll is for customers to buy the cookie of the candidate they support, occasionally someone comes along who skews the results.
“This one guy comes in and asks for a Barack cookie,” Gabriello recalled. “He chews the head off and throws the rest in the garbage... Some people are serious about their politics.”
Gabriello came up with the idea of frosted gingerbread candidates and a cookie poll as a way to make people smile during such a serious election cycle. They are made with tiny frosting suits and blue and red ties, with McCain’s cookie even including realistic frosting wrinkles on his brow.
“I’ve never been huge into politics,” Gabriello said. “They’re all so serious on TV, I wanted to do something silly.”
He keeps tabs on how many Obama, McCain — and yes, Sarah Palin — cookies customers buy at his locations in Andover, North Andover, Tewksbury and Peabody, and plans to announce a winner come November.
The cookies cost $2.59 a piece.
While he does not sell Joe Biden cookies, Gabriello swears it’s not out of any bias against the Delaware senator.
“I thought the guy here (McCain) could be Biden’s twin,” he said. “It would be hard to make them different in gingerbread.”
Gabriello isn’t the only businessman capitalizing on this year’s heated presidential race. People can buy everything from sandwiches named after their candidates, to Halloween masks, to T-shirts — there are even bobble head dolls.
Mr. Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers in Cambridge, owned by Andover resident Joe Bartley and his son, has sold both a John McCain and Barack Obama burger.
But the cookie poll appears to be a national phenomenon, and one that could serve as a preview of the outcome of the November election. After all, cookie polls accurately predicted George W. Bush’s win back in 2004.
As of last week, the national Retail Bakers Association’s cookie poll had Obama in the lead by a comfortable 12,077 to 9,022 cookie margin.
Gabriello is less open with the tally of his cookie count, saying he doesn’t want to sway the poll.
“I’ll say we’ve already sold tons of these,” he said. “But it’s a secret ballot until the end.”
Gabriello did hint that his poll is much closer than the results of more scientific polls that show Obama with a healthy lead.
“But I’m not giving numbers,” he repeated.
Gabriello has also suspended Palin’s cookie campaign for now, replacing her with Red Sox gingerbread as the team heads into the Tampa Bay series. But he promises she will be back.
“She wears these glasses and a little business suit. She was cute,” he said. “A definite favorite, whether or not people like her.”
Gabriello is encouraging his customers to vote early and often.
“One lady bought some and said she was going to ship them to Florida,” he said. “Sales go up on debate days, or anytime a candidate makes a big statement on the television.”
Customers leaving Perfecto’s on North Main Street last week said the cookies left them tickled.
“I’m not sure who I’m voting for yet, so I’ll have to try one of each,” said Janet Lynch of North Andover, laughing. “I’ll probably need a box of these before this election is over.”
Bob Locke of Tewksbury was more firm in his opinion.
“I won’t lie. I ate a Sarah cookie last week,” he said. “But I’m voting Obama-Biden.”
Merrimack Valley
October 12, 2008
Cookie-cutter candidates: Andover bakery owner conducts unscientific presidential poll
- Merrimack Valley
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Health violations issued for historic Osgood Street property
Andover officials have issued numerous health-law citations against Susan Odle, owner of this historic pre-Revolutionary property at 116 Osgood St., over the piles of full trash bags piling up around the property.
ANDOVER — A broken-down mini-van filled with clutter, beat-up furniture and weathered toys are scattered across the historic Osgood Farm property.
Continued ...
Neighbors have said the unsightly materials have been piling up in the yard and inside the home at 116 Osgood St. for years. But the latest addition — hundreds of full trash bags in the front yard — has become a cause for concern for many of them. -
Still moving in the same comfortable rhythm
Editor's Note: In the spirit of Valentine's Day, The Eagle-Tribune asked readers to tell us stories about their lasting relationships — how they worked through the challenges over the years and kept their love healthy and alive. The series continues through tomorrow, highlighting compelling stories of Love's Enduring Promise.
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Sending the kids away: Strikers' children went to safety in Vermont
When Salvatore Savinelli was just 4 years old, he hopped on a train bound for Barre, Vt., with 35 other children and his father as the group made its way out of the city in the midst of one of the biggest strikes in U.S. history.
Continued ... - Vermont town proud of its role
- State officials asked to investigate Adams
- Love's Enduring Promise: By Peggy's side
- Despite new law, local towns say no to GIC
- Mass. schools suspend thousands under 'zero-tolerance'
- Don't print that
- Pets of the week
- Community calendar
- Saturday, February 11, 2012
- Early morning, two-alarm fire on High Street, Haverhill drives family out of house
- Back on the home front
- Marine gets big welcome
- Gym damage forces shift of voting site
- Five candidates to run for Andover's top board
- Burglars hit fire damaged home
- Church celebrates renovations, anniversary
- Couple caught stealing $889 in groceries
- Man charged with hat theft
- Man arrested after chase
- Friday, February 10, 2012
- Spanish class exchange lets LHS, Phillips Academy students discover common interests
- Write your own success stories, students told
- State of city deadline missed again
- Retiring moderator's advice: 'Stay out of arguments'
- Man facing child porn charges said that he attended Merrimack
- Lantigua fails to file campaign finance reports
- Methuen, Lawrence Democrats to elect state convention delegates
- Councilor withdraws customer service crackdown
- Moran planning a run for 17th Essex Representative
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