Armies of aspiring presidential candidates on Friday beat the doors of the houses in the United States.
But on the eve of presidential elections, instead of shaking hands, taking babies in their arms, giving political speeches and asking citizens to vote, they made a lot more simple question: "Trick or treat?", And not asked for more than a piece of chocolate or some sweets.
In a tradition that happens every four years, when Halloween's day is just before an election: the most popular costumes are not those of dragons, dinosaurs or young nurses in erotic costumes.
In contrast, this time it was the politicians who stood out in the magical night: John McCain, Barack Obama and, of course, Sarah Palin, who often was represented with defiant erotic costumes.
Another favorite of the costumes was the pig with lipstick, a satirical reference on the comment made by Obama during his campaign about the economic policies of McCain, who was misconstrued as an insult towards the Republican candidate for the vice presidency, then that describing herself as a "Pitbull with lipstick."
The intensity of the election campaign this year was a panacea for polotical costumes's manufacturers, even amid the economic turbulence, said Mike Danford, owner and manager of traditional costumes of Halloween in San Francisco.
"I never saw something like this," he said. "Obama and McCain are obviously popular, but the costumes of Sarah Palin are taken as if they were to happen in fashion, which I personally hope."
In a trade of Halloween in Oakland, its owner, Greg Wills, said it sold all the Sarah Palin's masks.
"I called my provider every day, but the response was that he could not make them fast enough," he explained.
Willis is convinced that the insatiable demand does not reflect an appreciation for the Republican candidate for the vice presidency, but rather the opposite. In fact, he said, always sells more costumes of the candidate who eventually lost.
"Just because you wear a mask of someone that does not mean they will vote for him," he said. "Actually it means that one probably wants to make fun of him."
However, sometimes people crosses beyond some limits.
While the Secret Service concluded that the exhibit was not dangerous, local Republicans described the crime as bias, because it is targeting to candidates based on their political affiliation.
"If this stupid act has been carried out to Senator Obama, there had appropriately been a national protest," said county Supervisor Mike Antonovich.
The owner of the house, Chad Morissette, insisted that the policies of the candidates who frighten, not their representations.
"If it is a political statement, is that the policies (of McCain and Palin) scare us," said Morrisette the newspaper "Los Angeles Times." "This is our place of expression."
At the nearby Redondo Beach, a right-wing voters also found their way to express themselves: deployed from your balcony a representation of Obama lynched, with a butcher knife by cutting his throat, his red tie a slipknot and made his costume covered in blood. Finally, he was persuaded to withdraw the picture after a visit by the local organizer of the campaign of McCain.
Regardless of political views, there is little doubt that the increasing desire of Americans for a brief escape from reality is feeding a massive Halloween industry.
An estimated 51.8 million adults were dressed to celebrate Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation, which estimated that in total for the celebration were spent about 5770 million dollars throughout the country.
This was particularly true in the disputed state of Ohio, said the owner of a trade to the local daily "Freemont News Messenger."
"People are so tired of hearing all the negative campaign when it comes time to celebrate Halloween are ready and have some joy," said Greg Kearns, owner of the Costume Holiday House, "as was quoted.
"Halloween falls on a moment where things are very serious and tense between friends and colleagues discussing politics. Dressing gives people the opportunity to put aside their differences for a night, forget their problems and loose hair" He added.
Original Article can be found at 2001 dot Com