The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : The Race Is Over

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The Race Is Over

By Shawn Macomber on 10.6.08 @ 10:22AM

Or at least the one held this weekend at the Mall of America:

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (Oct. 6, 2008) - Americans will head to the polls in just 34 days to cast their vote for the next president of the United States, but who do kids think should be president? The gumballs have shown that kids would pick Obama for the next U.S. president if they were able to vote. In our unscientific poll, more than 1800 kids voted at Mall of America® this weekend. While it was a close competition, just as the national polls, the count of blue gumballs at 1000 compared to the 800 red gumballs.

This weekend, Mall of America gave kids a chance to vote and have their voices heard. Kids were able to press a blue button for Sen. Barack Obama and a red button for Sen. John McCain. After a button is pressed, blue or red gumballs are propelled up into 10-foot glass tubes - one housing blue gumballs and the other red gumballs.

In addition to voting for their favorite candidates, kids wrote their dream for America on a star. Some of these dreams included world peace, cheaper gas, and that people of all ages could vote. All of the stars were put together to make one giant American Flag.

Aside from the Mall of America's need to point out this was an "unscientific" poll, my favorite part of this release is learning that the kids who just thought it wise to participate in a sham gumball election immediately followed it up with a request that "people of all ages" be able to vote. Why not just say kids, first of all, since all other "ages" already can vote? And, second, if this is the kind of public spectacle they'll get into for a gumball, can you imagine how easily their vote could be bought? (I mean, I know the Obama campaign would love such an arrangement, but...) Call us when you're mature enough for cupcakes, 'kay?

Until then, I maintain my previous position.

topics:
Barack Obama