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.
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.
