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--SUPERS --
:00-:18
Alison Kosik

:36-:42
Spirit Halloween (prefonted)

1:01-1:10
Alison Kosik

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Polls may be showing a tight presidential election.
But this Halloween season, sales of candidates' masks are calling the race.
Alison Kosik in New York has more.

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS --
CAN YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION?
ONE STORE SAYS YES.
SPIRIT HALLOWEEN, THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST HALLOWEEN RETAILER, HAS ITS OWN "PRESIDENTIAL INDEX," WHICH USES NATIONWIDE MASK SALES TO PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION.
THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS A CLEAR WINNER.
OBAMA MASKS HAVE BEEN OUTSELLING ROMNEY MASKS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
IT'S NOT EXACTLY A SCIENTIFIC POLL, BUT SPIRIT HALLOWEEN HAS ACCURATELY PREDICTED THE ELECTION WINNER SINCE 1996.
IN 2008, OBAMA MASKS OUTSOLD SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN MASKS, WITH A 60-40 MARGIN.
THIS YEAR, SPIRIT IS SEEING THE SAME THING.
BUT THE FACE-OFF BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES DOESN'T STOP THERE.
BIG BIRD COSTUMES HAVE BEEN FLYING OFF THE SHELVES AFTER ROMNEY SAID HE WOULD CUT FUNDING FOR PBS, THE TV HOME OF SESAME STREET.
GOOGLE SEARCHES FOR BIG BIRD COSTUMES ROSE BY 600 PERCENT SINCE THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.
AT RICKY'S, A NOVELTY BEAUTY CHAIN, THE BIG YELLOW BIRD IS THE 5th MOST POPULAR COSTUME FOR ADULTS.
AND SO... WHILE THIS SEASON'S MASK SALES PREDICT AN OBAMA WIN, IT LOOKS LIKE BIG BIRD IS IN THE LEAD FOR PRESIDENT.
I'M ALISON KOSIK IN NEW YORK.
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