Cookie orders are rolling in for one enterprising bakery in Pennsylvania, but they aren’t just any ordinary cookie — they’re custom-made as part of an unofficial presidential “poll.”
Hatboro, Pa.-based Lochel’s Bakery started the cookie tradition back in 2008, and it’s been growing ever since, accurately predicting the presidential winner in its first three elections, the Associated Press reported.
Election cookie sales are up this year from 2020, and so far, it’s not even close: Republican nominee former President Donald Trump is leading his Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris by a margin of 12,558 to 889.
How it works is each sugar cookie ordered with blue and white sprinkles and a Harris 2024 label on it equals a vote in the poll for Ms. Harris, red sprinkle cookies mean a vote for Mr. Trump. Pennsylvania is considered perhaps the key swing state prize to win in November.
“It’s just a fun, non-stressful tally that we’re taking,” Kathy Lochel, whose husband is the third-generation baker, told AP. “It’s definitely not scientific. It’s just a delicious way I say to take the pressure off with what is going on with the election, all the ads, all the campaign stuff, just a cookie.
“I can’t emphasize that more,” she said. “It’s just a cookie.”
Ms. Lochel said the cookie order volume has been so high that they’re trying to fill three to four weeks of back orders, some of which have come from all over the country.
The Hatboro bakery has seen people drive hours just to get the cookies earlier than the expected shipping date. Right now, the bakery guarantees shipments will arrive by Election Day on Nov. 5.
According to an average of polls from the website 538.com, Ms. Harris has less than a full point lead over Mr. Trump in the Keystone State.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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