Cookie-cutter candidates: Bakery owner conducts unscientific presidential poll

By Crystal Bozek
cbozek@eagletribune.com

October 12, 2008 08:47 am

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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."

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